Fundamentals for Success in Business

Which organizational department is responsible for target market identification? A. Accounting & Finance B. R&D C. Marketing D. HR

C. This department is responsible for market identification.

Characteristics include being anxious, difficult to get along with, and moody.

Neuroticism

Which action should a CEO perform to attract individuals who will be a good fit for the company? A. Advertise about the company culture B. Advertise about advancement opportunities in the company C. Advertise about the work hours D. Advertise about the compensation for each position

A. Advertising the culture of the company will attract applications from individuals whose values align with those of the company.

A manager notices an employee frequently stands up during meetings when communicating and is often dismissive of other people's feelings. Which communication style is she exhibiting? A. Aggressive B. Assertive C. Passive-Aggressive D. Passive

A. Aggressive communicators often communicate while standing up and communicate without concern for others' feelings.

Although a car stereo manufacturing company has been expanding into new markets around the world, the CEO wants to maintain a rich form of communication among leaders throughout the new offices. The CEO wants their communication to remain interactive and wants to allow for two-way communication while still being able to identify nonverbal forms of communication. Which form of communication accomplishes these goals? A. Face-to-Face B. Voice message C. Social media D. Teleconference

A. Although these forms of meetings may be a little more complicated with international locations, face-to-face meetings are one of the richest forms of communication and would accomplish the CEO's goals.

A manager is responsible for four sales departments located in different parts of the state. The manager needs to keep all departments up to date with what is happening in the organization. Which type of managerial skills will this manager need to handle this challenge successfully? A. Communication B. Analysis C. People D. Technical

A. An effective manager must be able to communicate effectively both with individuals and teams working toward organizational goals and with upper management defining organizational goals.

Which form of communication has little or no nonverbal cues present during the exchange of information between the sender and receiver? A. Telephone conversation B. Video conferencing C. In-person meeting D. Group discussion

A. Due to the fact that communication takes place over the phone, there is no face-to-face interactions. This decreases the amount of nonverbal cues that are present during the communication process.

Which method of communication requires the receiver to interpret the message the way it was intended by the sender? A. Effective B. Nonverbal C. Written D. Oral

A. Effective communication is the receiver interpreting the message in the way the sender wanted it to be interpreted.

A manager in a large corporation is trying to encourage the employees to engage in individual corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Which action should the manager take to support this employee behavior? A. Encourage them to volunteer their time for social concerns. B. Ask them to take a pay cut and contribute the missing funds to a department party. C. Encourage them to attend meetings to brainstorm new project ideas. D. Ask them to work extra time at the offices so they can earn more money.

A. Encouraging the employees to volunteer their time to prosocial endeavors is a part of CSR.

A new office has had multiple complaints about the payroll services for its employees. Several times the payments have been late, and there has been confusion about which benefits the company will help pay. Which department will address this issue? A. HR B. R&D C. IT D. Accounting & Finance

A. HR is responsible for hiring new employees, managing employee benefits, managing internal employee conflict, and training in a company.

A senior manager makes an effort to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to build the company's reputation. Which action should the manager take to continue to move towards this goal? A. Pay fair wages to employees B. Manufacture an inexpensive product C. Focus on marketing efforts D. Focus on increasing profit margins

A. In order to be a socially responsible action by the manager, it is very important that the employees are paid fair wages.

A senior executive is looking for people in the organization who have the ability to influence others based on their level of charisma, not simply based on their corporate title. What type of individual is the executive attempting to identify? A. Informal Leader B. Formal Leader C. Divisional Manager D. Department Manager

A. Informal leaders are those who influence others based on their personal level of charisma, regardless of their corporate title or responsibility.

A manager understands the importance of the company's transparent and ethical supply chain but learns about a foreign supplier's unethical conduct. During a meeting with the supplier, the manager makes a point of reviewing the company's code of conduct without explicitly discussing the supplier's unethical practices. What is the manager discussing in this meeting with the supplier? A. Organizational Culture B. International Business Success C. International Business Culture D. Organizational Leadership

A. Organizational culture describes what those in the organization value and what the generally accepted practices for appropriate conduct are. This culture is the shared ethos of the organization. This manager is meeting with the supplier to discuss the company's code of conduct, which is a key part of a company's culture and its definition of appropriate conduct.

During a meeting, a senior manager became upset over an issue and used profanity when responding to lower-level managers. The behavior disrupted the whole company. Which organizational element of ethics did this manager violate? A. Culture B. Charter C. Bylaws D. Mission

A. Organizational culture refers to a system of shared assumptions, values, and beliefs that shows employees appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

A customer asks a service associate for a refund on a product that is broken. The associate asks how the product was broken, and the customer explains that it was broken when the box was opened. The associate thinks that is very unlikely but reflects on how the company values customer satisfaction above all else. The associate processes the refund for the customer. Which factor is influencing this associate's decision? A. Organizational Culture B. Individual Values C. Operating Procedures D. Cultural Diversity

A. Organizational culture represents the values, beliefs, and practices that are shared in a company. This associate recognizes how the organization values customer satisfaction above all else, and processes the refund consistent with company values, which is part of organizational culture.

During a department meeting, an employee tends to avoid making eye contact with others. Which type of communication style does this represent? A. Passive B. Passive-Aggressive C. Assertive D. Aggressive

A. Passive communicators think their opinions do not matter. They tend to agree with others and do not look others in the eye.

Which type of communication style is reflected by an employee who is disturbed by a negative review but fails to speak up about their concerns or feelings? A. Passive B. Passive-Aggressive C. Assertive D. Aggressive

A. Passive communicators will not speak up, even if they are disturbed by an event. They keep their opinions and feelings to themselves.

Charlie has noticed that the sales department in the new European headquarters in Germany functions more like a marketing environment. He decides to begin hiring individuals with the Big 5 personality traits who will be successful in a market environment. Which trait is Charlie looking for in the potential hires? A. Extraversion B. Conscientiousness C. Agreeableness D. Openness

A. People with this trait are often considered very outgoing and talkative and are most successful in a market environment.

Which consideration describes the degree to which a candidate's skill, knowledge, and abilities match the demands of a position? A. Person-Job Fit B. Person-Organization Fit C. Organization Culture D. Organization Selection

A. Person-job alignment or fit describes how well an individual's knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the specific demands of a job. This candidate was hired as a social media marketing manager because the candidate's knowledge and skills in designing and implementing campaigns is a fit for the job.

The chief executive officer (CEO) of a company decides to change the way the company has been functioning over the years in order to improve its reputation. The CEO decides to pay the employees a fair wage, show a good profit margin, and produce a reliable product. But even after a year, there is not much change in the way the community perceives the company. Which action will provide the improvement this CEO is seeking? A. Investing in social and environmental causes. B. Advertising products during popular sports programs. C. Recruiting additional employees. D. Creating an internal safety awareness program.

A. Right now, even though the company behaves ethically by treating its employees and customers fairly, engaging in social causes will improve the community's ethical perception of the company.

Which type of skill do manager exemplify when they have the ability to understand daily problems, provide solutions, and understand the skills required for their department to operate? A. Technical B. Interpersonal C. Communication D. Analysis

A. Technical skills refer to managers' ability to understand skills and processes that relate to their department. They can identify when there are issues and are able to provide solutions to problems.

Two coworkers are discussing proposed options for a new department-wide computer system. Coworker A shares their opinions, addresses the pros and cons of the system, and explains why this would be the best option. After finishing, Coworker A asks Coworker B for feedback as well as input and thoughts on the options. Which communication style is Coworker A exhibiting? A. Assertive B. Passive-Aggressive C. Aggressive D. Passive

A. The assertive communication style is when someone clearly expresses their own thoughts and then seeks open and honest feedback.

An organization that is a lead innovator is looking to hire someone to enter their research and development department. Which personality trait should the ideal candidate possess? A. Openness B. Extraversion C. Neuroticism D. Agreeableness

A. The ideal candidate should have a high level of openness because a person joining a research and development department should possess the qualities of curiosity and creativity and be open to new ideas.

Which department in an organization is responsible for customer research, branding, and advertising? A. Marketing B. Human Resource Management C. Information Technology D. Customer Service

A. The marketing group researches for new ideas with customers, leads initiatives such as online advertising, and positions the product in the market.

A corporation is opening a new factory in a small rural community and would like to demonstrate an ethical commitment to environmental responsibility in the new location. Which action demonstrates this commitment? A. Invite local citizens to a tree-planting event along the town's main street. B. Pledge to only recruit and hire from the local community. C. Create a citizen hotline for anonymous reporting of company problems D. Provide funding for laboratories at the local medical college

A. This action demonstrates a commitment to the environment and benefits the community

Which description of communication channels is accurate? A. Face-to-face meetings are personal, interactive exchanges that are still the preferred method of communication in business. B. Letters are a less formal method of written communication used in less important situations. C. Emails provide delayed written communication and are ineffective for formal notices and updates, as well as informal exchanges. D. Message boards and forums allow people to post information to a decentralized location.

A. This is the most preferred method of communication in business and allows for interactive style of communication.

An organization is known to have a culture that has a low tolerance for ambiguity. Which personality type is ideally suited for this organizational culture? A. Rigorous B. Friendly C. Adventurous D. Reserved

A. This personality type is ideally suited for an organizational culture feature of low comfort with ambiguity.

A company employee notices that a member of upper management is harassing a newly hired employee. The employee reports this behavior to the local authorities. Which term describes the action taken by the employee who reported the incident? A. Whistleblowing B. Social Responsibility C. Brainstorming D. Transparency

A. A whistleblower reports the immoral actions of an organization and its employees. Upper management harassing a new hire is against the law.

A company is trying to recruit candidates who will be a good fit for its culture. Which technique should the company use to enhance its results? A. Conduct multiple interviews of the candidates B. Extensively review candidates' resumes C. Hire individuals that were the top of their graduating class D. Evaluate candidates' accomplishments

A. By conducting multiple interviews with various candidates and getting their feedback, it will be easier for the company to assess whether the candidates will be a good fit for its culture.

Which fact should an individual consider when choosing a channel of communication? A. Identifying the level of interaction and details for each channel provides important information. B. Selecting a channel may affect the communication budget. C. Identifying the correct channel is the most important aspect of the communication process. D. Choosing a correct channel will ensure the delivery of an effective message.

A. Communication channels vary from rich to lean and offer different types of interactions and levels of detail.

Characteristics include being tolerant, considerate of others, trusting, and kind.

Agreeableness

An employee is attached to a group that is working on a large project that is directly related to a major corporate goal. What is this employee's role? A. Manager B. Team Member C. Supervisor D. Leader

B. A team member is part of a group of individuals channeling skills and resources to accomplish a goal.

The chief executive officer (CEO) of a beverage company wants to promote a healthy lifestyle to its customers. Which action will achieve this goal? A. Set an example to customers by donating corporate profits to a local health organization. B. Build a park for the community that includes walking trails. C. Donate food to a local food bank. D. Encourage employees to carpool to work.

B. By building a park with trails, the CEO may be able to encourage people to exercise and thereby promote a healthy lifestyle.

A chief executive officer (CEO) of a company that engages in corporate social responsibility is trying to cut costs. As a result, the CEO decides to move the operations overseas to a country with low wages and plans on paying a more than the prevailing wage in that location. Which description accurately describes this company's action? A. Legal but socially irresponsible B. Legal and socially responsible C. Illegal and socially irresponsible D. Illegal but socially responsible

B. By providing more than prevailing wages and taking care of the worker needs, the company is behaving in a legal and socially responsible manner.

Which characteristic must exist for new employees to perform well in an organization prior to being fully trained? A. Personality assessment profile B. Fit with the culture C. Number of accomplishments D. Level of GPA

B. Companies hire people who will fit their culture.

Which channel of communication is classified as being lean? A. Face-to-face meetings B. Emails C. Online meetings D. Video conferences

B. Email is a lean channel of communication with very limited interaction.

A manager encourages employees to distinguish themselves by consistently exceeding goal expectations and winning the department's monthly sales competitions. Which type of organizational culture is this reflecting? A. Clan B. Market C. Hierarchy D. Adhocracy

B. Goal achievement and competition are the central elements in a market culture.

Which channel is considered rich and allows for more interactive communication? A. Social media B. In-person oral C. Voice message D. Teleconference

B. In-person oral presentations are a rich channel of communication that provide the ability for a lot of interaction.

Which statement accurately describes the role of a leader? A. Leaders direct a group to accomplish a goal. B. Leaders can influence others even if they do not have a formal role. C. Leaders have to have a formal title in order to be in a position of influence. D. Leaders work toward creating circles of power.

B. Leaders influence others while trying to accomplish a goal. Leaders do not always have to be in a formal position of power.

A manager creates actionable items from a set of approved goals. What is this manager's management role in the organization? A. Front Line B. Middle C. Mentor D. Top

B. Middle-management is tasked with pursuing the goals set by top management through channeling individual efforts and team efforts. Examples of middle-management include plant, division, or department managers.

A senior executive recently had a meeting with a manager from one of their largest suppliers in Asia. The executive felt that the body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions of the manager indicated their company was not happy with a recently agreed-on contract. Which form of communication led to this conclusion? A. Written B. Nonverbal C. Non-Expressed D. Oral

B. Nonverbal communication includes communication through body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions.

A manager notices an employee is frequently hesitant to speak up during meetings and share his thoughts or beliefs, even in cases when the employee is being wronged. Which communication style is this employee exhibiting? A. Aggressive B. Passive C. Passive-Aggressive D. Assertive

B. Passive communicators are known to be tentative in their desire to speak up and voice their opinions, even in cases where they are being wronged.

An executive is struggling to communicate effectively with one of her company's new managers. The new manager is hesitant to share his thoughts and beliefs and often sounds apologetic when speaking. Which communication style is the new manager using? A. Aggressive B. Passive C. Assertive D. Passive-Aggressive

B. Passive communicators are often hesitant to share their true thoughts and opinions and will often sound apologetic when speaking.

Charlie has selected to work toward an adhocracy culture based on the competing values framework and is hoping to recruit employees in both domestic and new international locations who are inventive and will be successful in this environment. Which Big 5 personality trait will be successful in this cultural environment? A. Conscientiousness B. Openness C. Extraversion D. Agreeableness

B. People who are naturally curious and open to change will be most successful in an adhocracy environment.

Which of the following directly influences an individual's behavior and communication style? A. Language Barriers B. Personal Beliefs C. Ethnicity D. Marital Status

B. Personal beliefs shape the way individuals interpret messages and events, which in turn influences their behavior and communication style.

What is a strategy that seeks to preserve a positive relationship between both communicators while still addressing the problem at hand? A. Written Communication B. Supportive Communication C. Verbal Communication D. Nonverbal Communication

B. Supportive communication is a strategy that seeks to preserve a positive relationship between both communicators while still addressing the problem at hand.

During the workday, an employee's tasks include recruiting, onboarding new employees, and administering training and development. In which organizational department is this employee working? A. Accounting & Finance B. HR C. R&D D. Marketing

B. The HR department focuses on recruiting, training and development of staff, onboarding new employees to the organization, and overseeing labor law compliance.

After a message is developed, what should be considered in the delivery of the message? A. Professional relationships B. The intended audience C. Informal communication of the receiver D. Organizational policies and procedures

B. The Intended audience must be considered because it impacts delivery method, delivery style, response and impact.

A junior accountant discovered fraud in the recording of accounts receivable and plans to report this information to the local media. Which law protects this junior accountant from retaliation by management of the company? A. Civil Right Act of 1964 B. Sarbanes-Oxley Act C. Fair Labor Standards Act D. Securities and Exchange Act

B. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act mandates that all financial areas operate with transparency, makes it illegal to misrepresent the company's finances to company stakeholders, and protects whistleblowers.

In an effort to cut costs, an apparel factory is moving operations to another country where labor is cheap and employment laws are less stringent. Costs can only be kept low if the factory operates like a sweatshop. Which type of problem is this company facing? A. Illegal-Ethical B. Legal-Unethical C. Legal-Ethical D. Illegal-Unethical

B. The factory shifting its operations is legal, but it is unethical to operate like a sweatshop.

Which employee action illustrates a personal commitment to environmentally friendly business processes that also benefit the organization and local community? A. Participating in a mandatory management training program to prepare for a promotion B. Starting a recycling programming at the workplace to reduce landfill waste. C. Choosing to ride a bicycle to work in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions D. Beginning an exercise program in an effort to improve health and fitness

B. This type of program is related to the workplace and business processes. It reflects a personal commitment to environmentally friendly actions that will benefit the local community and organization.

An individual wants to be part of a team where employees are the most valued asset and given opportunities for both personal and professional development. Which competing values framework quadrant does this demonstrate? A. Adhocracy B. Market C. Clan D. Hierarchy

C. A clan culture focuses on relationships, team building, commitment, and empowering human development.

A hospital is trying to hire nurses for terminally ill patients. The nurses will need to exhibit a high level of the characteristics associated with the clan culture. Which personality characteristic should the ideal candidate have for this job? A. Neuroticism B. Extraversion C. Agreeableness D. Openness

C. A kind, patient, and understanding person would be best suited for this job. These are characteristics of the clan culture.

A company employee is involved in developing the vision for the organization and developing the broad goals necessary to move toward that vision. What is this employee's role? A. Individual Contributor B. Manager C. Leader D. Team Member

C. A leader sets the goals of an organization and presents a vision for the organization.

Which core managerial role involves gathering and organizing data to distribute to various people in the company? A. Intrapersonal B. Decisional C. Informational D. Interpersonal

C. A manager who has an informational role spends time collecting, gathering, and analyzing data in order to disseminate the information across the organization. This manager is responsible for gathering and organizing data to distribute to various people in the company.

Three employees are invited to present their ideas for solving a critical company problem. It is important that the company choose the correct idea from these suggestions. The manager listens carefully while taking notes during each person's presentation. She nods her head in response to the presenter's comments and smiles encouragingly. She also notes other cues that might identify personal feelings or commitment to their idea. This manager has demonstrated four of the five rules for active listening. Which remaining rule should the manager implement? A. Note all cues B. Listen for message content C. Paraphrase and restate D. Listen for feelings

C. Active listening entails confirming that the message has been heard accurately. In practice and in theory, paraphrasing and restating a message is an established rule of active listening.

A job candidate is preparing for an interview with an organization. The candidate wants to work for the organization because its values align with the candidate's personality and goals. Which process is this candidate using? A. Selection B. Attrition C. Attraction D. Acculturation

C. Attraction occurs when individuals identify with an organization's personality and values and are attracted to the organization for those reasons. This job candidate is attracted to the organization because its values align with the candidate's personality and goals.

What is an advantage of written communication? A. It facilitates the likely interpretation of the message by the reader. B. It is the easiest form of communication. C. It provides the sender the opportunity to reflect on ideas. D. It allows for instant feedback.

C. Because written communication happens asynchronously (not in real time), it provides the sender the opportunity to reflect on ideas prior to communicating the message.

Which type of skill includes a manager's ability to navigate conflict as it arises and understand the motivation factors that the employees express? A. Intrapersonal B. Technical C. Communication D. Analysis

C. Communication skills are described as managers' ability to navigate conflict as it arises, listening, and understanding their employees. They are able to help the team dynamic by identifying the motivation factors for the group.

Which form of communication allows a person to reflect or review a message prior to communicating it? A. Nonverbal B. Formal C. Written D. Oral

C. Communication that is written first allows the writer to think about the message they are trying to communicate before officially sending it to the recipient.

Which benefit can occur by using good communication skills? A. Improvement in shareholder earnings B. Boost in the organization's competitive position C. Increase in the chances of employment D. Enhancement in accounting accuracy

C. Effective communication is essential in establishing and maintaining a well-balanced workplace and increasing the chances of gainful employment.

A manager encourages employees to think creatively and take risks to increase their impact on the organization. Which type of organizational culture does this reflect? A. Clan B. Market C. Adhocracy D. Hierarchy

C. In an adhocracy culture, risk-taking and creativity are praised and the employees are expected to impact the external environment.

A business is managed by executives who value stability. The executives make all the decisions and managers follow specific company guidelines to implement them to maximize operational efficiency. Which type of organizational structure does this represent? A. Market B. Clan C. Mechanistic D. Organic

C. Mechanistic organizational structure emphasizes stable environments where traditional, top-down decision-making is used to promote certainty. These organizations focus on efficiency and clearly identified processes. This owner makes all decisions, and managers implement decisions by following specific company guidelines to maximize operational efficiency.

Charlie believes the manufacturing facilities of Sure Start use a hierarchy environment. He wants to hire more employees in both domestic and international locations who are organized, dependable, and suited for this category in the competing values framework. Which Big 5 trait should Charlie be focused on for these new hires? A. Agreeableness B. Extraversion C. Conscientiousness D. Openness

C. People with this trait are often considered organized and dependable. This group will be successful in a hierarchy environment.

An act of violence occurs in the country. When a company leader is asked about the situation by a colleague at lunch, the leader opens up to the colleague and expresses concerns about the aggression associated with the event. Which ethical concept is driving this leader's response? A. Cultural morals B. Professional values C. Personal Ethics D. Organizational Norms

C. Personal ethics are the set of principles that guide a person's behavior. Ethics reflect beliefs about what is right or wrong, what is just or unjust, and what is good or bad in terms of human behavior.

What is a key difference between personal and professional communication? A. Professional communication is used for a less diverse group compared to personal communication. B. Personal communication is more formal than professional communication. C. Professional communication is more clear and concise than personal communication. D. Personal communication is intended for a wider audience than professional communication.

C. Professional communication is formal and calls for the communication to be more clear and concise.

Which set of attributes reflects a market culture in the competing values framework? A. Adjustable and entrepreneurial B. Process-oriented and highly structured C. Results-oriented and competitive D. People-oriented and friendly

C. Results-oriented, competitive, focused on external environment, and confined by organizational norms are the attributes of the market culture.

Which term describes a person's ability to accurately perceive, assess, and exhibit appropriate emotions? A. Social awareness B. Relationship management C. Self-awareness D. Self-management

C. Self-awareness describes one's ability to correctly assess, understand, and portray appropriate emotions.

A company is quickly expanding to new offices and is working through issues related to how they will allocate resources over the next six months to handle the expansion. The results of these decisions will be reported to shareholders and used to seek additional resources from venture capitalists. Which department will carry out this work for the company? A. IT B. HR C. Accounting & Finance D. R&D

C. The accounting and finance department decides how to allocate company funds and reports these decisions to shareholders of the company.

A team member says, "I think we should purchase the less expensive of the two options. What does the rest of the team think?" Which communication style is being used by the team member? A. Passive-Aggressive B. Aggressive C. Assertive D. Passive

C. The assertive communicator is capable of both presenting their own opinion and valuing the input of others in the process.

An entry-level employee decides to borrow the company car for the weekend despite the company's code of ethics against the practice. Which ethical analysis applies to this behavior? A. It is acceptable as long as no one discovers the car was borrowed. B. It is not acceptable because the employee could have an accident while driving the car. C. It is not acceptable since it clearly violates policy. D. It is acceptable since the employee is in an entry-level position.

C. The company's code of ethics states that no employees should use the company car over the weekend. The employee borrowing the car violates company policy, regardless of employment level.

A manager reads an industry report and learns that the company is still leading the competition in customer satisfaction ratings. The manager values this measure of success and commits to do whatever it takes to maintain that ranking the following year. Which competing value does this represent? A. Adhocracy B. Clan C. Market D. Hierarchy

C. The market culture is externally focused on profitability, achieving competitive advantage, market share and is results oriented. This manager is committed to do whatever it takes to maintain the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry, which represents market oriented values.

Which aspect of effective oral communication is important to remember? A. Removing the focus on the nonverbal dimension of communication B. Managing the time-lapse involved with the receiver's interpretation and response C. Paying particular attention to body language and gestures D. Choosing the most effective medium to communicate the message

C. The nonverbal dimensions of oral communication such as body language and gestures are an important part of effective oral communication.

A chief executive officer (CEO) personally supports internal transparency for the organization. Which action by the CEO reflects this personal ethical belief? A. Designating offices as smoke-free to promote health and well-being B. Hosting a community forum where local citizens can learn about the corporation C. Sharing with employees how annual bonuses will be computed and awarded D. Funding art initiatives for children's programs at the local art museum

C. The sharing of this information with all employees will create clear communication and a better understanding of business processes.

An executive has always appreciated the communication style of one of his closest friends and wants to develop the same style. The friend is always clear and direct in expressing her opinion but not in a way that dismisses the thoughts and opinions of others. Which communication style is this friend using? A. Passive B. Aggressive C. Assertive D. Passive-Aggressive

C. These types of communicators are often direct in speaking their thoughts and opinions, but they are not insulting or offensive toward others.

Which organizational department is responsible for training and coaching employees? A. Research and development B. Accounting & finance C. Human resources D. Marketing

C. This department is responsible for employee-related issues like training and coaching employees.

What is the most common and natural form of communication? A. Nonverbal B. Informal C. Oral D. Written

C. This is the most common form of natural communication.

A company leader facilitates a planning meeting to engage everyone in the company's decision to use postconsumer recycled materials in its packaging. Which impact does this meeting have on the organization? A. It improves company profitability B. It enhances government support C. It increases employee awareness D. It provides more packaging choices

C. This leader is sharing how using postconsumer recycled materials in packaging could be achieved in an effort to engage employees in corporate social responsibility.

Which goal is one of the three main functions of communication in an organization? A. Establishment of a foundation for structural analysis B. Enhancement of structural framework C. Transmission of information D. Coordination of competitive positions

C. Transmission of information targets the communication within the organization itself. It is one of the three main functions.

A company establishes a goal to increase annual sales by 13 percent. In an organization-wide meeting, a senior manager mistakenly understates the organization's board-approved goal by a significant amount. What would be the potential impact on the organizational outcomes due to this type of miscommunication? A. Weakened shareholder confidence B. Improved productivity C. Decreased productivity D. Decreased employee morale

C. When goals are not accurately communicated, it can interrupt workflow and negatively impact motivation, which leads to lower productivity.

Characteristics include being organized, on time, and dependable.

Conscientiousness

One of a company's new offices is suffering from low morale even though the employees are working toward corporate goals. The owner notices that there is a disconnect between the supervisor and the employees. The owner thinks that the employees are only responding to the supervisor's directives out of duty. Which title encompasses the behavior of this supervisor? A. HR Director B. Individual Contributor C. Leader D. Manager

D. A manager is someone who gives directives for employees to follow.

Charlie is using the competing values framework (CVF) and decides to try and establish a culture that emphasizes flexibility with an external focus due to the organizational changes stemming from opening several new international offices. Which quadrant of CVF is Charlie selecting? A. Market B. Hierarchy C. Clan D. Adhocracy

D. Adhocracy is flexible with an external focus.

A senior executive has received many complaints about the communication style of one of the managers. The manager will stand up for her own views and opinions, but the style she uses often violates the rights of others. She is also dismissive toward the feelings of others, which is also causing problems. Which communication style is this manager using? A. Passive-Aggressive B. Passive C. Assertive D. Aggressive

D. Aggressive communicators will often come across as standing up for their thoughts and opinions while possibly violating the rights of others. They often seem dismissive of others' thoughts.

Which fact should an individual consider when choosing a channel of communication? A. Choosing a correct channel will ensure the delivery of an effective message. B. Identifying the correct channel is the most important aspect of the communication process. C. Choosing a channel may affect the communication budget. D. Identifying the level of interaction and details for each channel provides important information.

D. Communication channels vary from rich to lean and offer different types of interactions and levels of detail.

Which benefit can occur by using good communication skills? A. Boost in the organization's competitive position B. Improvement in shareholder earnings C. Enhancement in accounting accuracy D. Increase in chances of employment

D. Effective communication is essential in establishing and maintaining a well-balanced workplace and increasing the chances of gainful employment.

A manager attends training on different languages, business conduct, and approaches to working with diverse populations. Which aspect of the company is the manager learning? A. Organizational Leadership B. Organizational Culture C. International Business Success D. International Business Culture

D. International business culture describes what business populations in global geographic locations value and what the generally accepted practices for appropriate conduct are. This manager is attending training on different languages, business conduct, and approaches to working with diverse populations, which is the foundation of international business culture.

A senior executive is looking for individuals in the company who have the ability to influence others in a way that will help accomplish the company's goals as opposed to simply instructing others to accomplish the goal. What type of individual is this executive attempting to identify? A. Manager B. Foreman C. Supervisor D. Leader

D. Leaders are individuals who build a circle of influence and then help that group accomplish company goals.

A new manager of a sales department receives the monthly reports from all four of the company's sales locations throughout the state. The manager must interpret this data to set targets for sales for the next month and quarter. Which skill set must this manager possess to fulfill this job responsibility? A. Technical B. Communication C. People D. Analysis

D. Managers must be able to comprehend new information, visualize solutions, and analyze concepts to direct the efforts of individuals and teams.

An individual's only method of communication is American Sign Language (ASL). Which form of communication is this individual using to interact? A. Inscribed B. Written C. Oral D. Nonverbal

D. Nonverbal communication involves information transmitted without the use of spoken or written words.

A supervisor asks an employee to stay late to complete a personal task for the supervisor. When asked if the employee is willing to stay, the employee says, "I will do whatever you tell me to do," even though the employee is uncomfortable with the request. Which communication style is the employee displaying? A. Passive-Aggressive B. Aggressive C. Assertive D. Passive

D. Passive communication styles are displayed by people who are hesitant to speak up about their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions, even if they feel they are being wronged.

A company is looking to optimize their procure-to-pay system by implementing robotics to automate this match, which is currently handled manually. Which type of management is this company pursuing? A. Information B. Investment C. Relationship D. Process

D. Process management refers to an organization's desire to design processes that will optimize and improve business performance. This task can be completed through automation and use of technology such as robotics.

Which term describes a person's ability to empathize and understand how others feel? A. Self-management B. Relationship management C. Self-awareness D. Social awareness

D. Social awareness describes a person's ability to relate to and understand how other people are feeling.

A chief executive officer (CEO) wants to implement a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy that will positively affect the company's employees, unions, suppliers, consumers, and local and national governments. Which group is being targeted by this CSR activity? A. Shareholders B. Board of Directors C. Market Niche D. Stakeholders

D. Stakeholders are groups who are affected by a business and their CSR strategies. That group has an interest in the success or failure of the business and includes the employees, consumers, governments, and communities.

During the workday, an employee's tasks include processing incoming payments, creating invoices, and making timely payments. In which organizational department is this employee working? A. HR B. R&D C. IT D. Accounting & Finance

D. The accounting and finance group handle all issues related to making and accepting payments, preparing financial reports, creating invoices, and ensuring proper financial controls are in place.

Charlie wants to determine a model for the company's culture across all locations worldwide, but he realizes he needs to balance several factors. Specifically, he wants to consider whether the culture should have an internal or external focus and whether the culture should focus on flexibility or stability. What model should Charlie incorporate? A. Recruitment and selection dimensions B. United Nations cultural dimensions C. Human resources analytics framework D. Competing values framework

D. The competing values framework is a model with four quadrants that balances whether the firm wants an internal or external focus and whether they want a flexible or stable culture.

Which characteristic of an organization is considered in the competing values framework? A. Small versus large employee base B. Passive versus active communication style C. Open versus closed access to resources D. External versus internal focus of activity

D. The competing values framework uses the degree of an organization's internal versus external focus to help define an organization's culture.

A manufacturing cosmetics company currently avoids testing its products on animals, but the new chief executive officer (CEO) decides to begin that practice since it will help cut company costs. Which impact will this have on the organization? A. It will be able to increase the company's market share. B. It will reduce the company's position as an advocate for customer safety. C. It will be seen as being committed to producing reliable products. D. It will be viewed as being unethical.

D. The organization will be viewed as being unethical because it is testing its products on animals.

Characteristics include being outgoing, talkative, and social.

Extraversion

Characteristics include being curious, unique, creative, and interested in ideas.

Openness