Chapter 1

Question 1

List 6 trends in the digital-age workplace that affect business.

Answer 1

1. Rapidly changing communication technologies
2. Mobile “anytime, anywhere” and nonterritorial offices
3. Increased emphasis on self-directed work groups and virtual teams
4. Flattened management hierarchies
5. Heightened global competition
6. Renewed emphasis on ethics

Question 2

List bad habits and distractions that can act as barriers to effective listening.

Answer 2

1. Physical barriers
2. Psychological barriers
3. Language problems
4. Nonverbal distractions
5. Thought speed
6. Faking attention
7. Grandstanding

Question 3

List 11 techniques for improving your listening skills

Answer 3

1. Stop talking.
2. Control your surroundings.
3. Establish a receptive mindset.
4. Keep an open mind.
5. Listen for main points.
6. Capitalize on lag time.
7. Listen between the lines.
8. Judge ideas, not appearances.
9. Hold your fire.
10. Take selective notes.
11. Provide feedback.

Question 4

What is culture?

Answer 4

Culture may be defined as the complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs shared by a society, region, or country

Question 5

What are five key dimensions culture can be described as?

Answer 5

Context
Individualism
Time orientation
Power distance
Communication style

Question 6

List seven or more suggestions for enhancing comprehension when you are talking with non-native speakers of English

Answer 6

1. Use simple English.
2. Speak slowly and enunciate clearly.
3. Encourage accurate feedback.
4. Check frequently for comprehension.
5. Observe eye messages.
6. Accept blame.
7. Listen without interrupting.
8. Smile when appropriate.
9. Follow up in writing.

Question 7

Communication

Answer 7

The transmission of information and meaning from one group to another.

Question 8

Professionalism

Answer 8

A whole range of desirable workplace skills.

Question 9

Soft skills

Answer 9

A whole cluster of personal qualities, habits, attitudes, optimism and friendliness. And social graces

Question 10

Wiki

Answer 10

A web site that enables multiple users to collaboratively create and edit pages, serving as a central location where shared documents can be shared or revised by a large or dispersed team

Question 11

Podcast

Answer 11

A short audio or video clip; users can either watch or listen directly on a company Web site or download the media to their computers, MP3 players or smartphones

Question 12

What are some examples of low context cultures?

Answer 12

United States
Germany
Japan (Business context)

Question 13

what are some examples of high context cultures?

Answer 13

Japan (Social context)
China
Middle East
Native American Cultures

Question 14

What are some characteristics of low context cultures?

Answer 14

Explicit Communication - Messages are conveyed directly through words
Individualism
Short-Term relationships
Rule-Oriented
Cultural diversity

Question 15

What are some characteristics of high context cultures?

Answer 15

Implicit communication - Messages are conveyed indirectly, relying on non verbal cues, gestures and shared experiences.
Group Harmony
Long-term relationships
Cultural traditions
Non-verbal communication

Question 16

Group think

Answer 16

phenomenon where a desire for group harmony or conformity leads to irrational decision-making, often characterized by a lack of critical evaluation, suppression of dissent, and an illusion of unanimity within the group.