Question 1

____________ communication refers to the interactions within structured groups of people that help them accomplish their goals.

Accepted Answer

Organizational communication specifically refers to the interactions and processes within structured groups or entities, such as companies or institutions, that are aimed at achieving their collective goals. This includes the ways in which information is shared and how communication facilitates the functioning and achievement of the organization's objectives.

Question 2

Communication that occurs within groups such as colleges, companies, sports teams, religious institutions, or neighborhood watch groups would be considered

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

Kyle works for a large biotechnology firm. He knows that he is expected to work more than 60 hours per week, to take minimal lunch breaks, and to work most nights and weekends. In the lunchroom, there is very little interaction between employees, and Kyle does not fraternize with his co-workers outside of the workplace. Although Kyle normally is an easy-going and friendly person, he would most likely feel pressure to conform to the organizational _________________ of the firm.

Accepted Answer

The organizational culture of a firm encompasses the expectations, norms, and behaviors that guide how employees interact and work. Kyle feeling pressure to work long hours, take minimal breaks, and not socialize much with coworkers reflects the firm's culture.

Question 4

Which of the following is generally NOT a way to understand an organization's culture?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is generally NOT...

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a question you can use to understand an organization's structure?

Accepted Answer

Questions A, B, and D focus on structural aspects of an organization, such as its interaction with the environment, hierarchy, and power distribution. Question C, asking about the friendliness of participants, pertains more to organizational culture than structure.

Question 6

Josh works for a large, multi-national corporation. He has some new ideas for the product his department markets. To share his idea, he must first share it with his assistant manager, who then meets with the department head. The department head in turn will have to meet with the division chair, who can take it to the marketing committee for a decision. Josh's company, like many organizations, is a

Accepted Answer

Josh's company is a hierarchy because there is a clear chain of command and a structured process for decision-making, where ideas must pass through multiple levels of management.

Question 7

Grand Bank has a company president and board of directors that hold the majority of power and decision-making ability, so it has a(n) ____________ power structure.

Accepted Answer

A centralized power structure means that the majority of decision-making power and authority is held by a few individuals at the top of the organization, such as a company president and board of directors, as described.

Question 8

Liselle works for her city's Chamber of Commerce. As part of her job, she works with other city agencies, local businesses, media outlets and benefactors. She is expected to communicate and share information with these individuals and groups because the Chamber of Commerce's organizational system is

Accepted Answer

The Chamber of Commerce's organizational system is described as open because Liselle is expected to communicate and share information with a wide range of external entities, indicating an openness to external influences and interactions.

Question 9

___________ are ceremonial acts and practices that convey characteristics of an organization's culture.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ___________ are ceremonial acts and practices that...

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a type of organizational rite?

Accepted Answer

Interaction is not typically classified as a type of organizational rite, whereas conflict, passage, and blaming are recognized as such.

Question 11

Lisa's synagogue was not able to raise enough revenue during the fiscal year and has had to cut many staff positions and activities for the congregation. Several families have left the close-knit community as well due to financial issues. In order to revitalize its members, the synagogue plans a weekend retreat to help congregants brainstorm for ways to boost membership. This retreat would be best described as a ___________ rite.

Accepted Answer

The retreat is aimed at revitalizing the members and brainstorming ways to boost membership, which aligns with the purpose of a renewal rite, focusing on rejuvenating and strengthening the community.

Question 12

When you participate in a commencement ceremony at your college, you are participating in a(n)

Accepted Answer

A commencement ceremony at a college is a rite of passage, marking the transition of students from one stage of their academic or life journey to another, specifically from being students to graduates.

Question 13

_________ are repeated behaviors that provide a familiar routine to an organization's experiences.

Accepted Answer

Rituals are repeated behaviors that provide a familiar routine to an organization's experiences, helping to shape its culture and identity.

Question 14

Grayson works in the technology department at a large non-profit agency. Every Friday night, he participates in a company softball league, and after every game, he and his co-workers go out for drinks. Grayson and his co-workers are participating in what type of ritual?

Accepted Answer

Grayson and his co-workers are participating in a social ritual, which involves activities that strengthen bonds and foster a sense of community outside of the professional tasks at hand. Going out for drinks after a softball game is a social activity aimed at building relationships and camaraderie among the team members.

Question 15

If you engage in a series of ritualized activities that enhances your ability to do your job, you are using what type of rituals?

Accepted Answer

Task rituals are activities that help individuals perform their job more effectively.

Question 16

Seriah has been a member of the honor society at her college for one year. She's always participated in the club's service projects, but at a local road clean-up, she notices the other students seem close to one another. She feels left out, especially when they keep referencing the Saturday night study group that she always tries to avoid attending. When she realizes this study group is what is drawing the other members closer to one another, what type of ritual does Seriah most likely need to evaluate if she wants to feel included?

Accepted Answer

Social rituals, like the Saturday night study group, are activities that bring members of a group closer together by providing a shared experience. In Seriah's case, participating in this social ritual could help her feel more included among her peers in the honor society.

Question 17

In November 2009, Tareq and Michaele Salahi were able to sneak into an official state dinner at the White House, even though they were not invited. The government agency charged with the event's security was the Secret Service, and it was later determined that an official had let the couple though an initial checkpoint despite the lack of an invitation and a proper screening. In this case, it seems the official did not follow that agency's explicit communication _________ for the situation.

Accepted Answer

The correct term for explicit guidelines or instructions that should be followed in a situation is "rules."

Question 18

Just because employees claim to understand an __________ organizational rule does not mean they respond positively to it, as evidenced by employees' negative perception of managements that closely monitor e-mail in the workplace.

Accepted Answer

The correct word to fill in the blank is "explicit," which means stated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt. This fits the context of the sentence, which contrasts employees' understanding of a clear (explicit) organizational rule with their negative reaction to it, such as the close monitoring of e-mail.

Question 19

An employee that signs a nondisclosure agreement with a company in a highly competitive field is agreeing to abide by an organizational

Accepted Answer

A nondisclosure agreement is a legal contract that establishes a rule regarding confidentiality and the handling of sensitive information.

Question 20

An ________ organizational rule is understood and followed even though it isn't formally articulated.

Accepted Answer

Implicit rules are understood and followed without being formally articulated, fitting the description given.

Quiz 16: Communicating in Organizations