Organizational Communication

Question 1

Upward communication

Answer 1

> serial communication

• MUM (Minimize Unpleasant Messages)
• reluctance to relay bad news
• negatively affects org. by keeping important info from reaching the upper levels
• a survival strategy for employees

> attitude surveys
focus groups and exit interviews
Suggestion boxes
third party facilitators

Question 2

Downward Communication

Answer 2

• bulletin boards
• policy manuals
• newsletters
• intranet (organization-wide versions of the internet)

Question 3

Business Communication

Answer 3

> memos (provide info into many ppl in a short time)
telephone calls
email and voicemail
business meetings
office design
-free standing design -desks placed in a large are that is completely open
-uniform plans -desks placed in uniform distances and separated by panels into cubicles
-free form workstations -combination of designs to accommodate employee needs

Question 4

Informal Communication

Answer 4

> Grapevine

• single strand
• gossip grapevine (person pass message to a selected group)
• probability grapevine (tells message to few other employees and randomly pass to others)
• cluster grapevine (tells a few select employees who in turn tell a few select employees)

> Categories

• isolates (who receive less info)
• liaisons (receive more info)
• dead-enders

> Types of Info

• Gossip -about individuals and content that lacks significance to the people gossiping
• Rumor -contains info significant to the lives communicating the message

Question 5

Artifacts in the problem areas in interpersonal communication

Answer 5

-Concerns the objects that person wears or she surrounds herself

> Open desk arrangement -visitor sit beside person behind the desk
Closed desk arrangement -visitor sits across

Question 6

Reactions to communication overload

Answer 6

> Omission -conscious decision not to process certain types of info
Error -attempts to deal with every message but commits errors unintentionally because too much
Assimilate -modified to fit existing beliefs and knowledge

Question 7

Styles of listening

Answer 7

• Attitudinal Listening Profile
• measure employee’s listening style

> Leisure listening -pleasure
Inclusive listening -main ideas
Stylistic listening -the way communication is presented
Technical listening -detailed facts
Empathic listening -pay attention to nonverbal cues
Nonconforming listening -info consistent with way of thinking