Question 1

Kaylin just graduated from college in June. For the last three years she successfully ran a small business at her school. Her business arranged for the delivery of personalized birthday cakes and other gifts to students in her school. Since many of these students were from out of the province or even out of the country, this service provided a way for their family and friends back home to celebrate special occasions. Kaylin used social media like Facebook and Twitter to remind potential customers of upcoming birthdays and other gift-giving occasions such as holidays or campus events (care packages for mid-term exams, picnic packs to celebrate the arrival of spring after a snowy winter, etc.). Describe some of the communication issues related to Kaylin's business.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kaylin just graduated from college in June....

Question 2

As a good communicator, you need to know all technologies.

Accepted Answer

You don't need to know all technologies, but you do need to think about the implications of technology choices and use your options wisely.

Question 3

A mixed message occurs when the sender transmits a message in a language that is not spoken or understood by the receiver.

Accepted Answer

When the sender and receiver do not use a shared language, this is called a language barrier. A mixed message arises from a conflict between verbal and nonverbal communication.

Question 4

Padma, an avid home cook, has no culinary training or experience in professional kitchens. After dining at her house one evening, her friend Tom is so impressed by her cooking that he gives Padma the opportunity to work in the restaurant he manages. Describe some of the communication challenges that Padma may face as she works in a professional kitchen for the first time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Padma, an avid home cook, has no...

Question 5

The transactional model of communication is comprehensive and captures all the complexities of the communication process in a dynamic business environment.

Accepted Answer

The transactional model is too limited to capture all the complexities of communication. It depicts communication as happening between two people, however it typically occurs among multiple people with different contexts, backgrounds, agendas, etc.

Question 6

After receiving an email from your boss asking if you are free to help with a project on Saturday, you reply with an email asking how long it will take and what you will be required to do. This is an example of feedback.

Accepted Answer

Feedback is any form of verbal or nonverbal response to a message sent from the recipient to the original sender. It may be a quick response to the request, a request for clarification, or the addition of new ideas to think about.

Question 7

Why is it important to be aware of the different types of barriers to communication?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it important to be aware...

Question 8

Given that communication skills are so important to success in the workplace and are highly desired by employers, why do you think that so many university and even graduate school graduates are lacking in these skills?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given that communication skills are so important...

Question 9

Deciding how best to phrase a request to a coworker for the information that you need to create a proposal is an example of decoding a message.

Accepted Answer

When you communicate a request by putting it into words, images, or actions, you are encoding a message. When you interpret the words and actions of a message and attach meaning to them, you are decoding a message.

Question 10

Discuss why selection of the communication medium is so important.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss why selection of the communication medium...

Question 11

You have an interview for an internship that you really want. Discuss the ways in which you can display professionalism in this situation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You have an interview for an internship...

Question 12

Consider the various barriers to communication, and discuss how they might play out in professional situations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider the various barriers to communication, and...

Question 13

You are organizing a charity event in which local high school students will participate in a two-day tennis tournament to raise funds for the renovation of the community tennis courts. This will involve communicating with students, their parents, school administrators, coaches, local businesses, and the general public. Discuss some of the communication tasks and challenges you will face in organizing this event.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are organizing a charity event in...

Question 14

Research suggest that people in the workplace spend much less of their communication time listening than they do speaking, reading, or writing.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests more time is spent listening than on the other aspects of communication. Being a good listener is arguably even more important than being a good reader.

Question 15

Olivia works in the main office at a public elementary school. After only a week on the job, she has been asked to deal with a difficult situation. The kindergarten teachers were finding that many of their students' parents were lingering in their classrooms past the start of the school day, consequently making the emotional transition harder for their children. The parents were also crowding the limited physical space within the classrooms and hallways. Olivia has been asked to draft a notice to be distributed to the kindergarteners' parents to try to rectify this problem. Olivia believes this is a simple enough task and she writes the notice below. Discuss her draft and how you might improve it.
Attention kindergarten parents: Do not remain in your children's classrooms for too long, as this is causing problems.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Olivia works in the main office at...

Question 16

Describe the "headline test" in the context of professional business communication.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the "headline test" in the context...

Question 17

Active listening is an innate skill.

Accepted Answer

Active listening is a learned skill that requires you to focus on the speaker, make sense of the information presented, and, when possible, provide feedback about the information to ensure you understand it correctly.

Question 18

Barriers to communication can occur at any point in the communication process.

Accepted Answer

Obstacles to communication can occur at any point in the communication process.

Question 19

A communication strategy is a plan for what and how to communicate to ensure that your message achieves its purpose.

Accepted Answer

The best communicators always have a communication strategy to make sure their messages are purposeful, audience-oriented, and, in many cases, persuasive.

Question 20

Communication is all about self-expression.

Accepted Answer

Good business communicators understand that their messages must reach and influence their audience. Being able to reach an audience means first being a good reader and listener so that you can understand audience concerns.

Quiz 1: Becoming a Successful Business Communicator