Question 1

In the context of levels of communication, internal messages:

Accepted Answer

Internal messages are intended for recipients within an organization, such as employees or members. They have a defined purpose and strategy, as they are meant to communicate important information or directives within the organization. They can be formal or informal, structured or unstructured. They are not communicated through media advertisements, as those are external messages.

Question 2

A person is unable to communicate a message to his or her audience due to a noisy environment. The noisy environment is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Interference refers to any factor that hinders the communication process, such as noise, distraction, or language barriers. In this case, the noisy environment is interfering with the person's ability to communicate their message effectively. Synergy refers to the combined effort of individuals to achieve a common goal, and is not relevant to this scenario. Chronemics refers to the use of time in communication, such as punctuality or the use of pauses, and is also not relevant in this scenario. Proxemics refers to the use of space in communication, such as personal distance or territoriality, and is not relevant in this scenario.

Question 3

In ideal situations, the goal of communication is to:

Accepted Answer

The goal of communication should always be to reach mutual understanding, where both parties involved in the communication exchange understand each other's perspectives and ideas. This creates a more positive and productive environment for all parties involved. Better prospects of self-advancement and commending others can also be positive outcomes of communication, but they should not be the primary goal. Providing valuable feedback can also be an important aspect of communication, but it is not necessarily the end goal.

Question 4

Which of the following represents communication at a group level?

Accepted Answer

Communication at a group level is when a message is conveyed among individuals who belong to a particular group, such as a team or department within an organization. In this scenario, the manager is addressing his project team, which represents communication at a group level. B is interpersonal communication, C is organizational communication, and D is mass communication.

Question 5

A supervisor at a manufacturing plant is told to dump the chemicals used in the refining process into a local river rather than disposing them properly according to safety regulations. The chief executive officer of the company insists that the chemicals are not harmful to the environment. The supervisor knows that dumping is illegal, but he will lose his job if he reports the issue to authorities at the Environmental Protection Agency. In the context of causes of unethical corporate behavior, this scenario illustrates the supervisor's:

Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates the supervisor's unwillingness to take a stand for what is right, as they know that dumping chemicals into the river is illegal and harmful to the environment, but they are afraid of losing their job if they report the issue to the authorities. This is an example of a moral dilemma where the supervisor must weigh the consequences of their actions against their ethical obligations.

Question 6

Chantelle, the manager of the claims department in an insurance company, explains her team about the new claim form that the company will be using from next month. This scenario is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario involves a manager explaining something to her team, which is an example of downward communication where information flows from a higher level to a lower level in the organizational hierarchy.

Question 7

_____ is the kind of communication that flows from supervisors to employees or from policy makers to operating personnel.

Accepted Answer

Downward communication flows from higher-level management to lower-level employees. This type of communication is used to convey directives, instructions, and policies to employees and is essential for maintaining order in the workplace.

Question 8

Jeff, an employee at Citrus Inc., hears about a change in the company's leave policy from one of his coworkers and shares this information with another coworker, Judy. Judy, in turn, passes on the information to her teammates. However, this information has not been officially confirmed. In this scenario, the information has been exchanged through _____.

Accepted Answer

Grapevine communication refers to informal communication between employees and is often based on rumors and hearsay. In this scenario, the change in the leave policy was not officially confirmed and was shared through informal channels, making it an example of grapevine communication.

Question 9

Identify a true statement about downward communication.

Accepted Answer

Downward communication includes providing information, feedback, and instructions from higher level to lower level employees. It helps employees learn about the quality of their job performance, which is a true statement.

Question 10

Brandon, a manager at Cerium Corp., is required to provide individual performance feedback to his subordinates. In this scenario, the communication between Brandon and his subordinates is at a(n) _____ level.

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal communication takes place between two or more people and involves the exchange of messages. In this scenario, Brandon is communicating with his subordinates individually, which involves interpersonal communication.

Question 11

Which of the following is true of grapevine communication?

Accepted Answer

Grapevine communication is known for spreading quickly but not always being accurate. It is often informal and can bypass formal channels of communication, carrying rumors and gossip among employees. It does not follow a linear channel or have a single, consistent source.

Question 12

Which of the following statements is true of upward communication?

Accepted Answer

Upward communication refers to the flow of information from lower levels of an organization to higher levels, such as from employees to managers or supervisors. It often involves sharing feedback, ideas, or concerns, and can indeed involve risks for the employee, such as fear of negative repercussions. Trust in the supervisor is crucial for effective upward communication, as employees must feel safe to share honestly.

Question 13

Which of the following is true of downward communication?

Accepted Answer

Orientation to company rules and practices is an example of downward communication as it involves information being passed down from higher-level management to lower-level employees. Progress reports, recording project results, problem solving, and clarifications are not necessarily examples of downward communication, as they can involve communication between individuals at the same level or from lower-level employees to higher-level management.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of the formal communication network?

Accepted Answer

The formal communication network is determined by the managerial, technical, cultural, and structural environment of an organization. This includes factors like the organizational hierarchy, job roles and responsibilities, policies and procedures, and cultural norms that dictate how information flows within the organization. It is generally meant to be accurate and reliable, although it may not always be speedy. Unlike informal communication networks, formal communication networks can be depicted accurately by graphic means such as organizational charts.

Question 15

The _____ is a channel typified by the organizational chart, which is created by management to define individual and group relationships and to specify lines of responsibility.

Accepted Answer

The formal communication network is typified by the organizational chart, which is created by management to define individual and group relationships and to specify lines of responsibility. This type of network is characterized by the use of officially sanctioned channels of communication such as memos, reports, and other documents that are generated by the organization.

Question 16

One of the major shortcomings of organizational charts is that they do not recognize the role of _____ when they depict authority relationships by placing one box higher than another and define role functions by placing titles in those boxes.

Accepted Answer

Organizational charts do not recognize the role of horizontal communication, which is communication that occurs between people who are at the same level in the organization. While the chart may show who reports to whom, it does not reflect the collaboration and coordination that occurs between peers.

Question 17

In the context of directions of communication flow, _____ is a type of communication that is generally a response to requests from supervisors.

Accepted Answer

Upward communication refers to the flow of information from lower levels of a hierarchy to higher levels, typically involving responses to requests from supervisors or the provision of feedback and reports.

Question 18

Which of the following is a difference between the formal communication network and the informal communication network?

Accepted Answer

The formal communication network can be easily represented on an organizational chart, while the informal communication network cannot be accurately depicted using any graphic means.

Question 19

ServProf Inc. is a financial consulting firm that is currently recruiting new employees. One of the policies of the company states that an employee must work in the company for a minimum of one year and sign a contract with the company confirming the acceptance. Employees who accept the job offer agree to this policy, and it does not adversely affect them. However, it is against the law for companies to follow such a policy. In this scenario, ServProf Inc. has engaged in _____ behavior.

Accepted Answer

The policy is illegal because it goes against the law, but it is ethical because it does not adversely affect the employees and they agree to it by signing a contract.

Question 20

In the communication process, differences in education level, experience, and culture of the sender and the receiver are examples of:

Accepted Answer

Differences in education level, experience, and culture between the sender and receiver can cause interferences in communication, making the transfer of the intended message more difficult. These interferences can include misinterpretation of language, misunderstanding of cultural norms, and a lack of shared experiences.

Quiz 1: Establishing a Framework for Business