BUS 271
To find specific categories of information inside of an Excel spreadsheet, use the _______ feature. --IF --clustered column charts --COUNTIF --IF/THEN
--COUNTIF
Chris's boss, Yasmin, wants to consider changing the work schedule from 40 hours over five days a week to 40 hours over four days a week. She wants to know if this will cause any employee dissatisfaction or increase the cost of overtime. Chris really hopes Yasmin will make this change; he would love three days a week off a week no matter how long the work day is. What should Chris do? --Chris should create an information report --Chris should create a survey to share will all the employees --Christ should create an analytical report
--Chris should create an information report
Some of the best ideas for modifications to existing products have come from unpaid resources. The marketing department had started a blog for discussing products. Where did the unpaid help come from? --Unpaid Interns who were required to create a post every day --Input from janitorial staff based on the rough draft pages left out to be recycled --Customer posts to the blogs with their ideas, and even complaints about the current product
--Customer posts to the blogs with their ideas, and even complaints about the current product
Email takes the place of printed letters in much business correspondence. Which of the following might still remain in a letter format? --Nothing. Emails is the fasted communication. --Body shop estimate for insurance claim --Death certificate for insurance claim
--Death certificate for insurance claim
As part of the process to evaluate the effectiveness of a message, your boss has asked you to measure the amount of time people have spent on a new page on your company's website. Which question will doing this answer? --Did the audience consume any of the message? --Did the audience understand the message? --Did the audience receive the message sent?
--Did the audience consume any of the message?
Which of the following is likely to be in a response to a customer complaint letter about another customer's car hitting hers in the parking lot? --Please contact your insurance company. --Directional arrows will be painted on the parking lot by the end of the month. --Do you know who hit you so we can call them? --We are so sorry but you need to be more careful in these busy lots
--Directional arrows will be painted on the parking lot by the end of the month.
LinkedIn is a social media application for career-focused individuals to build networks. Why might a business be interested in this public network? --Competitive research --New business product customers --Employee recruitment
--Employee recruitment
Elena creates an outline before emailing about the software her company wants to purchase. To start her message, what is the most efficient statement for Elena to use as her opening? --Hi! I saw your rep on the web and hope you can help with some security software. --Greetings, our company has been in business for three years and now wants to secure our office. --Hello, could you please provide costs and availability for the following items?
--Hello, could you please provide costs and availability for the following items?
Using a clean and simple image to help communicate your idea: --Aligns with your brand message --Helps convey a singular idea and creates impact --Keeps the page from being too busy and difficult to read
--Helps convey a singular idea and creates impact
If it's your intention to associate the emotion of an image with your brand, you can --Leverage the design principle of consistency with your design. --Put it on a page with three similar images and make sure the important one is backward --Put your logo on the picture --Leverage the design principle of color and match it to your brand with tinting and washes
--Leverage the design principle of color and match it to your brand with tinting and washes
Is it unusual for a marketing employee to feel that doing her job is more about reading email than creating advertising campaigns? --No, all employees should be current with email even if it slows the marketing work. --Yes, marketing employees like the creativity of advertising so much that they rarely do anything else. --No, email addresses so many topics an employee may feel like there is not enough time to do the work she was hired for
--No, email addresses so many topics an employee may feel like there is not enough time to do the work she was hired for
Even though employee softball teams were not directly profit-related, upper management was fully supportive of them. Carlos's softball team would be advancing to regionals in two weeks. Carlos typed up a memo, ran off two hundred copies and began distributing theme to all company inboxes. Was this the right choice? --Yes, this is a unique and special moment. Employees should have something they can take home to share with their families. --No, Carlos should focus on getting his work done. Administrative assistants should be used for memo distribution. --No, printed documents are considered formal communication. A company event outside of work is an informal event, even if they did win.
--No, printed documents are considered formal communication. A company event outside of work is an informal event, even if they did win.
Pedro is preparing a newsletter-type report for his company outlining new purchasing requirements. The report will be read by everyone that purchase any items for the company. What will help Pedro create a good information report? --Pedro will prepare a short report describing the new purchasing requirements --Pedro will research the company's closest competitors purchasing requirements and report them to everyone --Pedro will research industry purchasing requirements and then put together a report on what he has found
--Pedro will prepare a short report describing the new purchasing requirements
Which of the following is the best subject line? --Conference speakers --Please confirm conference speakers --Conference agenda set. Can you confirm?
--Please confirm conference speakers
Not again! Susan had forgotten her password and tried to log in so many times her account is now locked. She needs to get in to the system to proceed with the simulation that the corporate trainer was describing. How could Susan get help without having to leave the training or make a big disruption in the room? --She will have to leave for a brief time to call from her cell in the hallway. --She could use a separate window to open an online chat with the support team. --She could text her girlfriend sitting in the front row for ideas.
--She could use a separate window to open an online chat with the support team.
Guadalupe is the manager for the meats and seafoods department for a rapidly-expanding grocery chain, Valuetown. The main reasons for Valuetown's expansion is because they have been purchasing individually-owned stores or small chains in the region. One of the issues Guadalupe has faced is that the display and storage units in these stores are not in great shape, and often meats can't be displayed. Valuetown is also spending a lot on repairs on equipment. Guadalupe has done an analysis of what the old refrigeration units are costing in terms of repairs and lost revenue. Her manager told her to write a report to present to the Valuetown board requesting a budget for the new units. How should she proceed? --she would write an informal report that briefly summarizes what she wants to do, highlights of her analysis, and then the data in the back matter. Her goal should be to get this report out as quickly as possible, even if it has a few errors. --She should ask for time to gives a presentation at the next board meeting and then take questions. She's more persuasive in person than on paper. --She should write a formal report with her conclusions at the front, a summary of her analysis in the middle, and back matter that includes the raw data on costs and lost revenue including estimated costs to replace the units. This report should be thoroughly edited and proofread so it is both stylistically perfect and in line with the needs of her audience.
--She should write a formal report with her conclusions at the front, a summary of her analysis in the middle, and back matter that includes the raw data on costs and lost revenue including estimated costs to replace the units. This report should be thoroughly edited and proofread so it is both stylistically perfect and in line with the needs of her audience.
Adam attends the Thursday Manager's meetings. The information at those meetings comes from the Tuesday VP weekly meeting. Adam passes information to his team the next day. However, no one wants a long meeting on Friday. What change could Adam make to relay this information at a pace better suited to current times? --Rely on office gossip for most of the information since it was usually faster --Take notes from the Thursday meeting to send out as an email to his team --Ask his staff to stay a half hour later on Thursdays for his department meeting
--Take notes from the Thursday meeting to send out as an email to his team
Yuri was surprised when he was asked to create a memo instead of an email about the parking lot resurfacing project. What is the different between a memo and an email? --None, the content of each is identical. --The memo does not have a closing phrase and signature. --The email does not have a closing phrase and signature.
--The memo does not have a closing phrase and signature.
When is it a better idea to use a bar chart representing data rather than using an emotionally-driven photograph in a presentation? --When presenting to potential clients whom you want to become interested in the company. --When presenting to your coworkers who are already emotionally invested in the company. --When presenting to individuals with a financial stake in the company.
--When presenting to individuals with a financial stake in the company.
Companies look for cost-effective ways to maintain and build business relationships. Email is one step in that effort. Which is the most effective positive message opening? --How did you come up with your idea? --KendCo is working on hard on a lot of iniatives. --Will you be available to discuss your idea with our developers the week of May 10?
--Will you be available to discuss your idea with our developers the week of May 10?
Bruna creates an outline before writing a memo about PC installations at her company. She wants to send a message to the employees that will be supporting the installation of the new PCs. To start her message to her coworkers, what is the most efficient opening line for Bruna to use? --Will you please confirm that you can support the following PC installation May 31? --I have been working on getting new PCs for three departments and the big day is finally here. --Hi! I know you guys are super busy, but you always do a great job.
--Will you please confirm that you can support the following PC installation May 31?
What is the best closing to a customer's request for hotel room upgrade? --I am so happy to be of service. --This deal is so good, please don't tell anyone else. --Your upgrade is confirmed. Please ask for Paul if you have any other needs.
--Your upgrade is confirmed. Please ask for Paul if you have any other needs.
Shareholder reports are distributed to employees, press and stockholders. This is the first year that the annual report is in print and email. To reach so many people and protect privacy, what tool would be the best for the company to use? --the BCC line --hiring a consultant --a listserv
--a listserv
To add functionality and different looks to a Google sheet, use _______ --add-ons --extra worksheets --the project management gallery --automatic formatting
--add-ons
Analytical reports and informational reports can be distinguished by: --an informational report is usually a simple, one-topic set of data --both reports contain substantial research and recommendations --analytic reports are structured and formal reports
--an informational report is usually a simple, one-topic set of data
When writing an internal memo to her statistics research company about maintaining professional integrity, Marissa reminds her employees to always use proper citations but to also protect their clients and themselves from issues by --never disclosing the results of their data analysis --anonymizing and protecting data --not considering the purpose and relevance of the data --synchronizing and protecting data
--anonymizing and protecting data
Corrina needs to send an informal report to a small group of her customers. Which is NOT an appropriate way for her to send her report? --as blog post --as an email attachment --as a memo
--as a memo
Josiah decides to assess his preconceived notions and put his feelings aside to approach each article with an open mind. This is called ______. --bias-blocking --bracketing --mindfulness --phenomenology
--bracketing
A Venn diagram is used to: --keep track of all the moving pieces of a project --compare the qualities of two or more different ideas --show hierarchy in an organization
--compare the qualities of two or more different ideas
Carrie's boss, Jorge, is considering changing the work schedule from 40 hours over five days a week to 40 hours over four days a week. He wants a preliminary analysis in order to know if this will cause any employee dissatisfaction or increase the cost of overtime. Carrie's best choice of format for this research is to ________. --create a powerpoint presentation --create an informal report --create a formal report
--create an informal report
Chris wants to address the issue of his local animal shelters being overcrowded and wants to advocate that people adopt animals. He has defined the question he is researching along with doing general background research. What should he do next? --conduct research on his issue --keep a list of research sites --evaluate what he has learned --develop a research strategy
--develop a research strategy
Stakeholders fall into the following three types: --loyal, disloyal, and committed --direct, indirect, and remote --active, passive, and neutral
--direct, indirect, and remote
The new product tested perfectly in the labs. How should specifications be shared with manufacturing? --wiki --email --blog --IM
After gathering data and information needed about organic farming in the US, Shelby should --identity what she needs to know --plan out her research --present on what she discovered --evaluation and compare data
--evaluation and compare data
Which of the following might Tobias use in his formal report as part of the "front section"? --recommendation --introduction --executive summary
--executive summary
After watching his mom move to four countries and six states, packing the household each time as his dad transferred for his job, Robert knew it was no wonder his mom did not work outside the home. As Robert follows his wife's career, he is thankful that ________. --he has his own career as a remote-office or virtual employee of Telcom Inc. --he has had such a good role model. He knows how to handle school holiday parties. --they had decided not to have children so that he could work.
--he has his own career as a remote-office or virtual employee of Telcom Inc.
Using a clean and simple image to help communicate your idea: --keeps the page from being too busy and difficult to read --helps convey a singular idea and creates impact --aligns with your brand message
--helps convey a singular idea and creates impact
_______ would be the best primary sources to consult when preparing a presentation about how the company culture has changed and evolved over time. --library database --historical documents and communications --employee information and interviews --articles about the company in business magazines
--historical documents and communications
Sophia has noticed that the customer check-out lines at her store have been much longer than they used to be on Sundays. There used to be fewer shoppers in the morning. There have been some disgruntled customers who have asked why there are so few checkers in the morning on a weekend. Sophia asks her morning manager, Valerie, to track the number of customers at each checker stand for the next 30 days and compare it to last year's numbers. Sophia wonders if this new change is due to the performance of the local football team or due to population growth in this suburb. Valerie collects the checker stand data and starts her outline for the short report. Which major sections should her report include? --opening, body, close --introduction, support, summary --introduction, support, recommendations, summary
--introduction, support, summary
Jay and his wife move to a new apartment with a tiny room that they are using for a home office. Jay insists they use the short wall for a bookshelf to give it a homey, studious feel. His wife smiles at him knowing they both use online banking and ebooks. Why is Jay attached to this bookshelf? --perception; and the fact that there are older resources Jay sometimes wants to refer to. --convenience; he needs a place to store his photo albums and collectible items --security; he worries about his digital files being accidentally deleted
--perception; and the fact that there are older resources Jay sometimes wants to refer to.
Tobias is reading an article about medicine and doctors when he sees a footnote at the end explaining that it was funded by a pharmaceutical agency. This makes Tobias skeptical of some of the information. Which criteria of the CRAAP analysis is Tobias using to analyze the article? --authority --accuracy --purpose --reliability
--purpose
John wants to make sure all his sources are coherently integrated so his paper won't sound awkward. An effective way to test his paper would be to --turn the paper in and hope for the best --ensure that there is a direct quote in every paragraph --use the writing center that the school provides --read the paper aloud to someone to see if the paper reads like conversation
--read the paper aloud to someone to see if the paper reads like conversation
Gillian needs to do some research about the changes in national education policy for work, but she knows next to nothing about educational policy before she starts her research. What's a helpful 1st step she could take to get started? --use google advanced search to find more generic information about policy --use google scholar to find academic articles related to educational policy --use google to search for information on education reform and filter for just information from education websites (using filetype: edu) --read wikipedia about education reform and education policy
--read wikipedia about education reform and education policy
Visual media that is purchased with a one-time payment and includes no additional payments for copies sold or time used is referred to as being: --creative commons --fair use --royalty free
--royalty free
Giselle needs to gather information about the performance and sales of frozen yogurt shops and nationally without spending too much money or time. She should conduct ________. -primary research --qualitative research --secondary research --interviews and surveys
--secondary research
Roman is writing a territory analysis report for his senior manager, Elly. He estimates the report will be about 35 pages long, based on his knowledge of the report completed five years ago. He knows this work will be classified as a formal report. He looks back over the prior report to consider which sections he might need to include in the report. Which of the following might Roman use in his formal report as part of the back matter? --alternative evaluation --store-by-store data --abstract
--store-by-store data
When trying to put information into a useful format to analyze data sets using statistical methods, one helpful tool is/are ________. --internal questionnaires --personal interviews --survey monkey --paper surveys
--survey monkey
As a communicator, you can determine if your audience understood your message by ________. --seeing how long people lingered on the web page on which your message is located --looking to see how many people opened up your email --surveying your audience, referring to employment strategies that indicate your audience's level of comfort
--surveying your audience, referring to employment strategies that indicate your audience's level of comfort
Which of the following statements are true about text and visuals? --when one supports the other, the message is very clear --they can work together or stand alone. if the visual tells the whole story, you don't need text --you should have text or a visual, but not both
--they can work together or stand alone. if the visual tells the whole story, you don't need text
Ruthie is an intern at a small company and has been tasked with writing an informal report for her boss about quarterly sales. She uses mostly internal data, but pulls two quotes from outside sources. How should she cite her sources? --the more formal the better! that way no one can doubt her integrity --use footnotes only so that citations don't get in the way of the text --use her best judgment to ensure proper attribution --if it's just for her boss, it's not important to cite sources
--use her best judgment to ensure proper attribution
What is one benefit of a company's choice to use a website to distribute their annual report instead of using a PDF (or another static document)? --websites allow for the use of higher quality images --websites allow for the use of video --websites allow for charts and graphs, which can be updated easily with new information
--websites allow for the use of video
What is the most important factor when formatting formal reports? --what best matches the content of the report --what will work best for the recipient of the report --what will look best coming out of the printer
--what will work best for the recipient of the report
7 principles of business communication:
-clarity -conciseness -objectivity -consistency -completeness -relevancy -understanding of audience knowledge
To incorporate visuals effectively, you should understand that you're going to heed all 7 principles of communication, particularly these 3:
-clarity -consistency -relevancy (& the addition of persuasive)
You see a line of soldiers standing at attention, and one of them is sitting cross-legged on the ground. Your eye is drawn to that soldier that's sitting because -there's more "visual weight" on the sitting soldier, which demonstrates the principle of hierarchy -he's a different color than the other soldiers -he's breaking pattern, and the eye always goes to the part of an image that's different
-he's breaking pattern, and the eye always goes to the part of an image that's different
If you see a teddy bear in the foreground of the picture and other stuffed animals in the background, you pay close attention to the teddy bear. That's due to the visual design principle of: -hierarchy -patterns -balance and space
-hierarchy
Analytical Report for a negative audience:
-intro/background -facts/findings -recommendations -summary
Analytical Reports for a neutral audience:
-intro/background -recommendations -facts/findings -summary
Information Reports:
-provides background and information without reaching an evaluation -includes reports like meeting minutes, expense reports, and progress or status updates -informal information reports include an intro/background, support/reasons, & summary
Analytical Report:
-provides same info as informational report along with evaluation or recommendation -includes feasibility studies, justification reports, and proposals -informal analytical reports include an intro/background, support/reasons, recommendations, & conclusion/summary
Front sections of a formal report may include:
-transmittal letter -cover page and title page -table of contents -executive summary
3 Situations on when to use text:
-when you want to make a powerful point -when you're creating a list or mnemonic -when an image just isn't enough
What is a Gnatt chart?
a timeline (shows how long a project will take, the resources needed, and the order of task completion)
What adds "weight" to your design and guides the viewer's eye to what you want them to see?
constrast
How is a title page different from a cover page?
title pages provides more specific, detailed info about the doc and its authors; similar to your front cover and its repeats the info on the cover, but adds more important detail
Dmitri is writing a review of a new movie. He wants to use stills from the movie and a promotional poster for the video as visual aids in his article. Is this use legal?
yes, since he's writing a critique of the movie, this use falls under fair use
