Question 1

A manager might use _______as a type of communication.

Accepted Answer

A manager can use meetings, telephone conversations, and talking informally as types of communication depending on the situation or purpose. Therefore, the correct option is D, all of these.

Question 2

_______is necessary for communication to be considered two-way.

Accepted Answer

Feedback is the process of the receiver providing a response or reaction to the message sent by the sender. This is necessary for communication to be considered two-way, as it allows for the sender to receive confirmation that the message was received and understood by the receiver, and also provides an opportunity for clarification or further discussion. Without feedback, communication is only one-way and lacks the necessary exchange of information and understanding between the sender and receiver.

Question 3

Which communication channel would be most successful to inform managers of impending company-wide layoff?

Accepted Answer

Face-to-face contact is the most effective communication channel for delivering sensitive or difficult news like layoffs. It provides an opportunity for the manager to ask questions, seek clarification and provide emotional support to the affected employees.

Question 4

Sharon is a part of a software engineering team. Her task is to develop a diagnostic program for the medical profession. This is a very complex task. What type of communication structure would work best for her group?

Accepted Answer

A decentralized communication structure would work best for Sharon's team as they are working on a complex project. Decentralized communication allows for more open communication among team members, encourages collaboration, and enables faster decision-making. In a decentralized structure, individual team members have more autonomy to make decisions within their area of expertise and contribute to the project as a whole, which is especially important for a complex project like the one Sharon's team is working on.

Question 5

Channel richness refers to the:

Accepted Answer

Channel richness refers to the amount of information that can be transmitted during a communication episode, which can be affected by factors such as the ability to convey nonverbal cues, the use of immediate feedback, and the ability to handle complex messages.

Question 6

To be effective communicators, managers should:

Accepted Answer

To be effective communicators, managers should encourage the use of multiple channels of communication. This includes not only face-to-face meetings, but also email, messaging, phone calls, and other forms of technology. It is important for managers to be flexible in their communication style and use different channels based on the situation and the needs of their team members. This enhances the overall communication within the organization and ensures that everyone is on the same page.

Question 7

_______refers to a team communication structure in which team members freely communicate with one another and arrive at decisions.

Accepted Answer

Decentralized network refers to a team communication structure in which team members freely communicate with one another and arrive at decisions. This structure promotes more participation and input from team members, leading to more diverse and creative solutions to problems.

Question 8

When interviewing prospective employees, Samuel, a seasoned manager, often observes hand gestures, facial expressions, and use of space to gauge individuals' personalities. These are all examples of:

Accepted Answer

Observing hand gestures, facial expressions, and use of space are all examples of nonverbal communication.

Question 9

_______are examples of channels which managers might choose to use when communicating with employees.

Accepted Answer

Among the given options, only B provides channels commonly used for business communication with employees, such as telephone, electronic mail, and memo. Newsletters, feedback, television, encoding, and letter do not appear to be as frequently used for this purpose, and national newspapers and television may be more appropriate for external communications.

Question 10

The receiver _______the symbols to interpret the meaning of the message.

Accepted Answer

The process of decoding involves interpreting the symbols or signs used in the message to understand its meaning. It is the receiver who performs this task, as they are the ones receiving the message. Encoding and transmitting are tasks performed by the sender, while responding to or ignoring the message is an action taken by the receiver based on their interpretation of the message.

Question 11

For complex problems, an _______network is most effective for swift, accurate problem resolution.

Accepted Answer

A decentralized network is most effective for complex problems as it allows for distributed processing and decision-making, leading to faster and more accurate problem resolution.

Question 12

When a group of workers have routine tasks to perform, a _______communication structure allows more time for the task to be completed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a group of workers have routine...

Question 13

_______and _______are potential sources for communication errors, because knowledge, attitudes, and background act as filters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _______and _______are potential sources for communication errors,...

Question 14

A centralized network is one in which:

Accepted Answer

In a centralized network, team members communicate through one individual to make decisions. Option A describes a decentralized network, while options C and D describe a paired and independent network, respectively. Option E is not a valid answer.

Question 15

Jenna composes an email from home to her boss to inform him that she will be late getting to work that day. The act of composing an email involves which stage of the communication process?

Accepted Answer

Composing an email involves encoding the message, which means forming the message into a written or verbal communication that can be understood by the recipient.

Question 16

What are the key elements of communication?

Accepted Answer

The key elements of communication are encoding (the process of putting thoughts into symbols), message (the content being communicated), and feedback (the receiver's response to the message). Choice A includes all three of these key elements. Choice B includes noise, which is a factor that can interfere with communication but is not necessarily a key element. Choices C and E include circuit, which is not a key element of communication. Choice D includes perception, which can be important but is not one of the three key elements.

Question 17

Louise, a top-level manager at INF Inc., has the difficult task of informing 12 employees that they are about to be laid off. Which communication channel should Louise use to break the news?

Accepted Answer

Breaking the news of layoffs is a sensitive matter that requires empathy and professionalism. Face-to-face communication allows the manager to convey their message while simultaneously reading the reactions of their employees, and providing them with the opportunity to ask questions or express concerns. It also lets the employees feel valued and heard before they exit the company.

Question 18

Selina is meeting with her subordinate Mike for his annual performance review. At the end of the review, Mike tells Selina that he is confused about some things she said. By asking Selina to explain certain things in more detail, Mike is engaging in which component of the communication process?

Accepted Answer

By asking for clarification, Mike is providing feedback to Selina, indicating that he received the message but may not fully understand it.

Question 19

_______refers to the amount of information that can be transmitted during a communication episode.

Accepted Answer

Channel richness refers to the degree to which a communication channel allows information to be transmitted accurately and quickly. Rich channels, such as face-to-face interactions, allow for a high level of information richness, while leaner channels, such as email or memos, provide less opportunity for immediate feedback and nonverbal cues, resulting in lower information richness.

Question 20

Which of the following, in the communication process, has the responsibility to decode the symbols and interpret the meaning of the message?

Accepted Answer

The receiver has the responsibility to decode the symbols and interpret the meaning of the message. The sender encodes the message and chooses the symbols, but it is the receiver's job to understand the intended message. The channel is the means of transmitting the message, the filter may distort or block the message, and the middleman is an intermediary in the communication process.

Quiz 13: Managing Communication