Deck 6: Interpersonal Communication at Work

Question 1

. Karin does not want her supervisor to know that the employees she is in charge of are not fulfilling their obligations, fearing the information will make her look like a bad manager to her boss. She decides not to tell her supervisor and deal with it on her own. This type of message distortion is

A) gatekeeping.
B) general distortion.
C) withholding.
D) upward withholding.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Interpersonal communication is ________, meaning it occurs between two people.

A) dual
B) dyadic
C) conversational
D) double

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Semantic information distance is a term that describes

A) when employees and supervisors do not share the same view of some organizational issues, basic job duties, or employees' participation in decision making.
B) when the information being presented in a meeting is not in line with the company's mission statement.
C) how companies communicate by different channels such as phone, internet, and mail.
D) when semantics play a part in organizational decision making.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Bryan is the vice president of the human resources division for his company and John is one of his employees. Therefore, Bryan is the _________ and John is the _________.

A) superior; subordinate
B) supervisor; coworker
C) leader; follower
D) superordinate; assistant

Question 5

Rudy routinely needs to order parts from another part of his company to create a finished product. Rudy is an example of a(n)

A) external customer.
B) vendor.
C) internal customer.
D) inclusive buyer.

Question 6

Which of the following is an active listening strategy?

A) validating
B) reflecting
C) summarizing
D) all of the above

Question 7

Adding a relational layer to a message can be done with

A) eye contact.
B) tone of voice.
C) word choice.
D) all of the above

Question 8

To limit message distortion, supervisors can

A) limit the number of people a message must travel through before it gets to you.
B) go to the source of the message for clarification.
C) keep communication channels open with subordinates and customers.
D) all of the above

Question 9

Which is the best definition of interpersonal communication?

A) a large number of people interacting
B) cocreation of meaning as people interact and is dyadic
C) a face-to-face communication
D) one person talking to a group

Question 10

Susan acts warm and friendly to her supervisor when discussing possible promotions, leading some of her coworkers to call her a "teacher's pet" or "brown-noser." Susan is using a(n) ________ strategy.

A) advocacy
B) ingratiation
C) disparaging
D) condescending

Question 11

Which is the best technique for communicating with a supervisor?

A) ingratiation
B) gatekeeping
C) advocacy
D) There is no one best way to communicate with your supervisor.

Question 12

According to ________________ theory, the information we choose to disclose is managed by our own self-set rules.

A) managerial information
B) information security
C) self-disclosure maintenance
D) communication privacy management

Question 13

Bruce and Carol are discussing an upcoming business trip after Carol returned from a mandatory leave of absence. Carol laughs and makes eye contact with Bruce, joking about the length of the trip. The laughter and joking is the ______ layer of their interaction.

A) relational
B) topic
C) content
D) contextual

Question 14

The _________, also known as the "grapevine," allows employees to speak directly and not chance the message being altered as it moves though the formal communication network.

A) information superhighway
B) rumor mill
C) gossip culture
D) informal communication network

Question 15

Ivana typically interacts with two of her coworkers on the same project, their information technology representative, and her immediate superior. This is known as Ivana's

A) communication network.
B) office family.
C) workplace community.
D) organizational contacts.

Question 16

When Karin's supervisor asks about her work load she says it is fine. In actuality, she spends much of her time on personal calls and recently had to ask her coworkers to do some of her part of the project in order to meet the deadline. This type of deception is known as

A) summarization.
B) general distortion.
C) withholding.
D) gatekeeping.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a reason interpersonal communication is important?

A) Your ability to relate with other people is central to achieving professional excellence.
B) Interpersonal communication helps you form professional connections with other coworkers, leaders, and clients.
C) Your interpersonal relationships at work provide a supportive social system that will increase your job satisfaction.
D) Your interpersonal communication will allow you to manipulate your interactions to your advantage.

Question 18

Approximately how many women in workplace romances reported motives relating to the job?

A) 15%
B) 25%
C) 35%
D) 50%

Question 19

Information from formal networks is __________ than information from informal networks.

A) less efficient and more accurate
B) less efficient and less accurate
C) more efficient and more accurate
D) more efficient and less accurate

Question 20

Daniel has an excellent idea to increase productivity on his assembly line. However, the original idea he sent to his superiors was altered along the way and became ineffectual. This occurrence is known as

A) gatekeeping.
B) summarization.
C) upward distortion.
D) withholding.

Question 21

Communication that occurs within the white space is known as informal communication.

Question 22

_____________occurs when some, but not all, of the information is passed on to the supervisor.

A) Gatekeeping
B) Summarizing
C) General distortion
D) Withholding

Question 23

Professional etiquette is practicing good manners in a professional setting.
*

Question 24

The interpersonal communication between supervisors and subordinates is limited to the relational layer.

Question 25

Your coworkers are potentially your internal customers.

Question 26

Explain the relational layer of messages. How might this affect communication excellence?

Question 27

External customers are clients that are external to the company.

Question 28

______________occurs when information is not passed on to the supervisor.
a. Gatekeeping
b. Summarization
c. General distortion
d. Withholding

Question 29

___________is when the messages that move from subordinate to superior are altered.

A) Misunderstanding
B) Downward privilege
C) Upward distortion
D) none of the above

Question 30

If ingratiation is insincere, not your style, or if your boss doesn't like the attention, your resulting communication will come across as less than professional.

Question 31

Active listening strategies should be a part of your communication interaction in order to achieve professional excellence in interpersonal communication.

Question 32

Interpersonal communication occurs in dyads.

Question 33

Janet works for a major phone company where she routinely takes calls from clients and answers questions about the company's products and services. Janet's job involves the field of

A) public relations.
B) customer relations.
C) publicity.
D) technical support.

Question 34

At meetings, Bill often interrupts his coworkers when they are talking and allows his cell phone to ring during others' presentations. Bill is violating

A) work norms.
B) workplace courtesy.
C) organizational expectations.
D) professional etiquette.

Question 35

Interpersonal communication can occur between a supervisor and a subordinate.

Question 36

Sexual harassment can include unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature and is a result of communicative behaviors and sense making.

Question 37

How do messages get altered as they move from subordinates to superiors?

Question 38

Explain communication privacy management (CPM) theory, including issues that are managed using this theory.

Question 39

The KEYS to professional excellence in interpersonal communication include all of the following EXCEPT

A) know yourself.
B) evaluate the professional context.
C) step back and reflect.
D) All of these are KEYS to professional excellence in interpersonal communication.

Question 40

All of the following are steps you can take to limit message alteration EXCEPT

A) limit the number of people a message travels through before it gets to you.
B) go to the source for clarification.
C) shoot the messenger.
D) keep communication channels open with subordinates and customers.

Question 41

____________________ are formally prescribed by the organization.

A) Informal communication networks
B) Organizational chart
C) Formal communication networks
D) none of the above

Question 42

Getting to know yourself better involves adjusting your communication style in professional settings.

Question 43

Intimacy is just about romance and sexuality.

Question 44

When you evaluate your professional context, you are becoming

A) more audience centered.
B) more person centered.
C) more self-centered.
D) more profession centered.

Question 45

Creating a hostile work environment is a form of sexual harassment.

Question 46

___________________ involves evaluating another's needs and preferences and then developing messages, arguments, and proposals that line up with those needs and preferences.

A) Advocacy
B) Ingratiation
C) Manipulation
D) Conversation

Question 47

_________ is characterized by feelings of closeness and trust that you share with other people.

A) Interpersonal communication
B) Intimacy
C) Privacy management
D) Disclosure

Question 48

________________ is when an employee acts warm and friendly toward the supervisor.

A) Advocacy
B) Ingratiation
C) Manipulation
D) Conversation