Question 1

A team of writers is just beginning a new documentation project. The client for the team's last project complained that the completed document kept switching from active to passive voice and that the design of the headings was not visually consistent. Which of the following is the team's best approach to avoiding such problems on the current project?

Accepted Answer

Creating a style sheet will help ensure consistency in voice and design, addressing the issues of inconsistent voice and heading design from the previous project.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the forms discussed in Chapter 4 as a tool to help ensure that a team's efforts will be successful?

Accepted Answer

Chapter 4 does not discuss a "task-deadline form" as a tool for ensuring team success among the options provided. It mentions other forms like work-schedule, self-evaluation, and team-member evaluation forms as tools to help in this regard.

Question 3

Which of these guidelines is NOT likely to help your team work effectively and efficiently?

Accepted Answer

Letting team members assign themselves tasks may lead to confusion and duplication of effort, especially if certain tasks are not deemed as important by team members. It is best to have a clear delegation of tasks and responsibilities to avoid any misunderstandings or conflicts.

Question 4

Which of these comments about a team member's report draft is the least diplomatic?

Accepted Answer

Comment C is critical and does not provide any constructive feedback or suggestions for improvement. It is likely to be interpreted as an attack on the team member's writing skills and can be demotivating. The other comments provide feedback while still being diplomatic and supportive.

Question 5

Which of these statements about working with someone from another culture is true?

Accepted Answer

Different cultures may have different levels of privacy and what is considered appropriate to discuss in public or with colleagues. Therefore, a topic that is common in one culture might be seen as too personal or inappropriate in another culture. The other options are not necessarily true for all individuals from other cultures.

Question 6

Chapter 4 offers six guidelines for participating in a videoconference. Which of these is NOT a suggestion from the chapter?

Accepted Answer

The suggestion to "speak louder than usual" is not included in the guidelines given in Chapter 4 of the text. The other three options are all recommended in the chapter as important considerations for successful video conferencing.

Question 7

A writer is commenting on the first draft of a technical report written by another team member. Which of the following comments is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Option B is the most appropriate comment because it provides specific, constructive feedback on the content of the report, suggesting improvements and additions that could enhance its effectiveness.

Question 8

Which of the following does NOT overstate the speaker's position?

Accepted Answer

Option C is an overstatement rather than an understatement. The speaker makes an absolute claim without any evidence to back it up, which could lead to overstating their position. The other options express the speaker's positive opinions without making absolute statements.

Question 9

What is an advantage of creating a document collaboratively in a shared workspace rather than working collaboratively on a document via email?

Accepted Answer

A shared workspace allows all team members to work on the same document simultaneously, with all changes being saved in real-time. This creates an archive of all changes made by all team members, making it easier to track progress, review revisions, and ensure that everyone is on the same page. Collaborating via email, on the other hand, can lead to multiple versions of the same document being created, making it difficult to keep track of changes and maintain consistency.

Question 10

According to Chapter 4, which of the following features of word-processing software are particularly useful in collaboration?

Accepted Answer

Comment, revision, and highlighting features allow for multiple collaborators to leave feedback and make changes to a document in real-time. This is essential for effective collaboration in a word-processing document. The other features listed may be helpful in individual use of the software, but they do not directly facilitate collaboration.

Question 11

Chapter 4 offers several suggestions for conducting efficient meetings. Which of these is NOT a suggestion from the chapter?

Accepted Answer

The chapter does not suggest avoiding a formal schedule and allowing each team member to say whatever they want. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of having a clear agenda and sticking to it to make the meeting more efficient.

Question 12

According to the research cited in Chapter 4, which of the following behaviors might people from other cultures exhibit?

Accepted Answer

In many cultures, people avoid saying "no" directly to maintain harmony and avoid confrontation, which can be perceived as unwillingness to respond with a definite "no."

Question 13

Chapter 4 discusses six advantages of collaboration. Which of the following is NOT one of those advantages?

Accepted Answer

Collaboration can lead to groupthink, but this is not considered an advantage. Groupthink can lead to a lack of creativity and critical thinking because everyone in the group is working towards consensus rather than challenging ideas.

Question 14

Which of the following is likely to cause a team writing collaboratively to produce an inferior document?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding conflict can lead to groupthink, where members prioritize agreement over critical thinking and the quality of the document may suffer.

Question 15

Chapter 4 offers seven guidelines for managing your project. Which of the following is NOT one of those suggestions?

Accepted Answer

The suggestion to "Follow your original schedule strictly to avoid falling behind" is not among the guidelines for managing a project effectively. Flexibility in adjusting schedules based on project progress and unforeseen challenges is often crucial for successful project management.

Question 16

Chapter 4 offers seven guidelines for communicating diplomatically. Which of these is a suggestion from the chapter?

Accepted Answer

The chapter suggests asking pertinent questions as a way of communicating diplomatically. Options A, B, and C are all incorrect suggestions for diplomatic communication.

Question 17

A project manager is using a word processor to review an electronic file of a document written by a team member, and she does not understand the meaning of a term used in the document. What should the project manager do?

Accepted Answer

Using the comment feature is the best option to clarify the meaning of the term with the writer, allowing the project manager to fully understand the document and provide feedback for improvement if necessary. Deleting or highlighting the term may alter the intended message of the document, and checking the change bar may not provide an explanation for the term.

Question 18

Which of these guidelines will help you listen effectively?

Accepted Answer

Asking questions to clarify what the speaker said is a helpful guideline for effective listening as it allows for clear understanding and prevents misinterpretation. Writing down everything the speaker says can be distracting and may cause one to miss important details, while avoiding eye contact or allowing your mind to wander are both counterproductive to listening effectively.

Question 19

According to Chapter 4, one way to listen more effectively is to pay attention to the speaker. What are two other ways?

Accepted Answer

Listening for main ideas and asking questions to clarify show active listening and understanding of the speaker's message. Taking notes may also help retain information, but focusing on emotional responses can be distracting. Interrupting the speaker frequently can be rude and disrupt the flow of communication. Tape-recording may be useful for reference later, but it is important to still actively engage in the conversation.

Question 20

Chapter 4 discusses several ethical pitfalls of using social media at work. Which of these is NOT one of them?

Accepted Answer

Using social media to collaborate on work-related projects is not an ethical pitfall. In fact, social media can be a useful tool for collaboration and communication in the workplace as long as it is used appropriately and professionally. The other options, however, all involve potential ethical violations such as using social media for personal use during work hours, sharing private or confidential information, or making negative and damaging statements about others or organizations.

Quiz 4: Writing Collaboratively