BCOM 300W - Chapter 5, "Creating Effective Business Messages"

Most business messages are crafted using a(n) ______ approach. -deductive -democratic -indirect -inductive

-deductive

Which of the following are characteristics of effective and compelling business message frames? -They are long and detailed. -They use rational and emotional appeal. -They include extensive personal information. -They are memorable.

-They are memorable. -They use rational and emotional appeal.

Which of the following are aspects of setting up the logic of a business message? (Choose all that apply.) -arranging message logic -defining a call to action -describing the ideas of the message -identifying supporting points

-arranging message logic -defining a call to action -identifying supporting points

To form a business message with confident claims and predictions, you should do which of the following? (Choose all that apply.)

-choose your language carefully -be careful in your reasoning

AIM is a process for ______ the writing of useful business messages.

planning

In the context of business messages, workplace ______ are the core beliefs about suitable ways of handling issues and problems. -priorities -values -constraints -efficiencies

values

The framing of the primary business message is important for which of the following reasons? (Choose every correct answer.)

-It emphasizes the message's premises. -It gives focus to an important argument. -It highlights support for the message's key ideas.

When writing an effective business message, being flexible can involve which of the following? -listening to the ideas of others -settling on a single option -being open to alternative ways to address an issue -focusing on an either/or approach

-listening to the ideas of others -being open to alternative ways to address an issue

Which of the following are the effects of a positive workplace attitude? -It enhances creativity. -It improves work performance. -It curbs influence on clients. -It provides motivation.

-It improves work performance. -It enhances creativity. -It provides motivation.

Which of the following are accurate descriptions of the meta message of a business communication? (Choose every correct answer.)

-It is conveyed as a combination of content and tone. -It is the overall message conveyed by the communication.

Readers interpret the tone of a business message primarily as a reflection of the writer's attitude toward which two of the following?

-the message content -the readers of the message

Crystal believes that outsourcing the bookkeeping needs of her firm would save money. She researches various companies and runs the numbers for various scenarios to gather evidence of the potential savings that would result from using outside bookkeepers. Which of the following best defines Crystal's message structure? -Crystal is identifying causes and effects. -Crystal is slanting the facts. -Crystal is using generalizations. -Crystal is using analogies.

Crystal is identifying causes and effects.

Which of the following statements about workplace priorities is not true? -Priorities are more constant than values. -Prioritizing goals and tasks is a type of ranking. -Knowing workplace priorities is useful in planning business communication. -Workplace priorities involve assigning importance to goals and tasks.

Priorities are more constant than values.

Your goal in framing a business message is to -create a call to action based strictly on emotional appeal. -make it compelling while using rational and emotional appeal. -define for the audience the logic of the message. -outline the message structure using inductive reasoning.

make it compelling while using rational and emotional appeal.

Using an outline or diagram to form the logic of a business message typically leads to which two results?

-Thinking about the issues becomes tighter. -Issues can be written about more effectively.

Most business messages are crafted using a(n) ______ approach.

deductive

Setting up the logic of the message consists of which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.) -identifying the message's audience -identifying supporting points in the message -identifying the call to action -identifying the secondary message

identifying supporting points arranging message logic defining a call to action

The AIM process includes which of the following steps? (Choose every correct answer.) -message development -information gathering -audience analysis -administrative management

information gathering message development audience analysis

When framing the primary message, authors of a business message should complete which of the following? (Choose all that apply.) -explain message logic -define the primary message -define supporting points -compose a brief, vivid message statement

-define the primary message -compose a brief, vivid message statement

Framing the primary message involves presenting the message -using clearly taken notes. -within an overall theme. -to a sympathetic audience -using a high-tech computer display.

within an overall theme.

An audience's assessment of a business communication message is largely based on the author's

credibility.

When writing a business message with an indirect approach, which of the following are presented first? -secondary message -call to action -primary message -supporting reasons

supporting reasons

For many business messages, the most important step in the planning stage of business communication writing is identifying

the benefits to be gained by the reader.

The professional reputation of entry-level business people can be improved relatively quickly through which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.) -being conscious of strengths and weaknesses -repeating over and over that you are credible -offering something of value to the work environment -defining one's self as an outsider to corporate culture

-being conscious of strengths and weaknesses -offering something of value to the work environment

Which of the following are identified to help create solid business ideas? (Choose every correct answer.) -choosing the writer's point of view for conveying the idea -making sense out of often complex and confusing pieces of information -determining the business issues and objectives -gathering relevant information and facts

-making sense out of often complex and confusing pieces of information -gathering relevant information and facts -determining the business issues and objectives

Strong analogies are important to the writing of business messages because they -broaden proposals. -limit conclusions. -challenge recommendations. -reinforce arguments.

-reinforce arguments.

The frame of a primary business message should be which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.) -memorable -short -legalistic -lengthy

-short -memorable

Which of the following are helpful ways of organizing the logic of a business message? (Choose every correct answer.) -using a computer language -setting up truth tables -diagramming the logic -sketching out the logic

-sketching out the logic -diagramming the logic

In a deductive business argument, the essence of the message can be gleaned from which three of the following? (Choose every correct answer.) -the last paragraph -the last sentences of supporting paragraphs -the first sentences of supporting paragraphs -the first paragraph

-the first paragraph -the last paragraph -the first sentences of supporting paragraphs

Order the following steps as they typically occur in developing sound business ideas, with the first step at the top and the last step at the bottom:.......................................1. identification of questions and problems 2. research to gather information 3. making conclusions or finding solutions

1. identification of questions and problems 2. research to gather information 3. making conclusions or finding solutions

For an effective frame, the primary business message should be approximately ______ words in length. 10 to 15 50 to 100 30 to 50 20 to 25

10 to 15

True or false: The use of templates is required for creating business messages.

False

In terms of tone, which two of the following do readers respond to most positively? -The strength of analogies -The projection of positivity -Concern for others -The use of either/or logic

The projection of positivity Concern for others

Which of the following are characteristics held by outstanding business thinkers? -They have the ability to state important questions. -They can solve complex problems. -They limit solutions to what is conventional. -They focus on either/or thinking.

They can solve complex problems. They have the ability to state important questions.

True or false: Business messages can be strengthened to counteract issues concerning low credibility.

True Reason: If a crafter of a business message has low credibility, there are means to strengthen a message to overcome that lack of credibility.

Templates are used to create a business message for which of the following reasons? -to restate its topic sentence -to generate key points -to organize its appearance -to define its structure

-to organize its appearance -to define its structure

Which of the following are part of planning the basic message structure? (Choose every correct answer.) -arranging the logic of the primary message -identifying the audience -criticizing the ideas behind the primary message -finding and framing the primary message

arranging the logic of the primary message finding and framing the primary message

Business messages usually conclude with a -summary. -primary message. -call to action. -supporting reasons.

call to action.

Entry-level business professionals have low credibility primarily because they are -uneducated. -overconfident. -irresponsible. -newcomers.

newcomers.

Business-message readers generally have a better reaction to an author who is seen as

open to a variety of options and ideas.

In business communications, which of the following generally enhances the writer's beneficial influence over others? -pessimism -detachment -sternness -optimism

optimism

When the tone of a business message is ______, there is an implied interest in the opinions and needs of the audience.

welcoming

Which of the following are parts of the process of crafting effective business messages? (Choose every correct answer.)

writing reviewing planning

What are constraints that members of your audience might have that keep them from responding to your message as you hope? -They do not have any interest in listening to your message. -They do not have enough time to act on your message. -They do not have the authority to make relevant decisions. -They do not have the necessary resources.

-They do not have the authority to make relevant decisions. -They do not have the necessary resources. -They do not have enough time to act on your message.

Setting up the logic of the message consists of which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.) -identifying the secondary message -identifying supporting points in the message -identifying the message's audience -identifying the call to action

-identifying supporting points in the message -identifying the call to action

In effective business messages, any analogies should be rooted in -the business world. -flexible interpretations. -distinctions. -relevant similarities.

relevant similarities.

An indirect approach is often used for which of the following types of business messages? -to announce good news -to give negative news -to offer a promotion -to sell a proposition

to give negative news

Writing effective messages in business should seek to do which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.) -boost productivity -evade responsibility -drive collaboration -impose authority

drive collaboration boost productivity

When writing a business message, a key component of credibility comes from demonstrating -detachment from the audience. -a strong ego. -a me-versus-you tone. -interest in others.

interest in others.

When business thinkers are mentally flexible, they possess the ability to -embrace either/or thinking. -hold conventional views. -understand contrasting views. -focus on linear thinking.

understand contrasting views.

For many business messages, the most important step in the planning stage of business communication writing is identifying -the call to action framed in the message. -what you value that is not valued by your reader. -the priorities of the writer. -the benefits to be gained by the reader.

the benefits to be gained by the reader.