Communication

Question 1

Which of the following is a disadvantage of oral communication?

• The likelihood of ill-considered statements is high.
• The message is less persuasive.
• The sender has no control over where, when, or if the message is received.
• The cost of oral communication is relatively high.
• The sender does not receive immediate feedback.

Answer 1

The likelihood of ill-considered statements is high.

Question 2

One of the keys to effective listening involves:

being rigid. 
judging delivery of content. 
focusing on all details and facts. 
avoiding dull topics. 
finding an area of interest.

Answer 2

finding an area of interest.

Question 3

Which of the following is an advantage of electronic communication within organizations compared to other methods?

• There is less risk of negative portrayals and misinterpretations.
• There is increased speed and efficiency for routine messages.
• It is easier to pick up on subtle nonverbal clues.
• It takes less time to make high-quality group decisions.
• There is enhanced ability to solve complex problems.

Answer 3

There is increased speed and efficiency for routine messages.

Question 4

Which of the following is true of effective writing?

• It should contain as much information as possible.
• It should be free of sarcasm and caustic humor.
• It requires lengthy passages and paragraphs.
• It needs to be complex and elaborate.
• It wholly depends on correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Answer 4

It should be free of sarcasm and caustic humor.

Question 5

A(n) _____ organization is one in which no barriers to information flow exist.

informal 
dysfunctional 
bureaucratic 
centralized 
boundaryless

Answer 5

boundaryless

Question 6

Downward communication refers to the flow of information from:

• higher to lower organizational levels.
• subordinates to supervisors.
• the company to customers.
• operational to strategic managers.
• people inside the organization to external parties.

Answer 6

higher to lower organizational levels.

Question 7

Ringing telephones, thoughts about unrelated issues, and fatigue that block perfect understanding are all examples of _____ in the
communication process.

breach 
clutter 
biases 
noise 
errors

Answer 7

noise

Question 8

The _____ can be destructive when irrelevant and erroneous gossip and rumors proliferate and harm operations.

hierarchy 
quality circles 
bureaucracy 
grapevine 
virtual office

Answer 8

grapevine

Question 9

_____ is the transmission of information and meaning from one party to another through the use of shared symbols.

Negotiation 
Mediation 
Affiliation 
Communication 
Alliteration

Answer 9

Communication

Question 10

Which of the following is an advantage of one-way communication over two-way?

• More accurate communication ensures clarity.
• Feedback allows for suggestions and modifications.
• Communication is faster and easier.
• The receiver is more likely to understand what to do with the message.
• Fewer mistakes or problems are likely to arise as work progresses.

Answer 10

Communication is faster and easier.

Question 11

Reflection is a process:

• of withholding, ignoring, or distorting information.
• by which managers provide performance feedbacks to their subordinates.
• by which a person states what he or she believes the other person is saying.
• by which a communication channel conveys information.
• of receiving and interpreting information.

Answer 11

by which a person states what he or she believes the other person is saying.

Question 12

In general, difficult and unusual messages should be sent through _____ media, like face-to-face communication.

personal 
complex 
simpler 
richer 
informal

Answer 12

richer

Question 13

Horizontal communication refers to the flow of information:

• from lower-level to higher-level employees.
• between customers and the organization.
• among people on the same hierarchical level.
• between employees and customers.
• from supervisors to subordinates.

Answer 13

among people on the same hierarchical level.

Question 14

The process of receiving and interpreting information is known as:

reflecting.
perception.
filtering.
learning.
interlocution.

Answer 14

perception.

Question 15

An organization in which there are no barriers to information flow is referred to as a(n):

bureaucratic organization.
decentralized organization.
open system.
boundaryless organization.
centralized organization.

Answer 15

boundaryless organization.

Question 16

_____ organizations offer the advantage of fewer problems caused by filtering of information as it cascades through many layers.

Vertical 
Flatter 
Informal 
Hierarchical 
Bureaucratic

Answer 16

Flatter

Question 17

Messages via oral communication:

• are less persuasive than written.
• have no feedback.
• have no permanent record.
• are more expensive than written.
• can be revised several times.

Answer 17

have no permanent record.

Question 18

Which of these is the process of withholding or distorting information?

Filtering
Shielding
Interlocution
Perception
Buffering

Answer 18

Filtering

Question 19

An example of filtering would be when a:

• worker tells his colleague that he has overheard the boss talking about a raise.
• manager listens to his colleague and believes everything he says.
• worker listens to his boss’s ideas and interprets them.
• worker who has not met his target tells his boss that he has reached it.
• manager listens to his subordinate and does not jump to conclusions about a problem.

Answer 19

worker who has not met his target tells his boss that he has reached it.

Question 20

People are more likely to buy into a message that is:

complex.
authoritative.
simple.
abstract.
lengthy.

Answer 20

simple.