Business Communication (Chapter 1,2&3) Test 1

Which of the following is an example of an informal organizational communication channel?

A blog is an example of an informal communication channel.

Which of the following is considered a rich medium?

A face-to-face conversation is a rich medium.

A generalization that is not fixed and rigid when it is used to describe cultures is called a

A prototype is the preferred term for describing general characteristics of a group because a prototype is flexible and open to new definitions.

A generalization that is not fixed and rigid when it is used to describe cultures is called a(n)

A prototype is the preferred term for describing general characteristics of a group because a prototype is flexible and open to new definitions.

According to Transparency International, what are the two most corrupt countries in the world?

According to a study by Transparency International, the two most corrupt countries in the world are North Korea and Somalia.

Which of the following is an advantage of written communication?

An advantage of written communication is that it creates a permanent record. It is also easy to distribute, may be economical, promotes comprehension and recall, allows precise and uniform expression, and gives readers flexibility in when and how to receive content.

Which of the following is an example of downward communication in an organization?

An example of downward communication involves the CFO sending information about a new accounting regulation to employees in the accounting department.

Which of the following is an example of horizontal communication in an organization?

An example of horizontal communication in an organization involves six marketing reps meeting to discuss ideas for targeting new customers.

Which of the following is an example of upward communication in an organization?

An example of upward communication involves a warehouse worker suggesting to his boss a way to improve employee morale.

By tradition, Asian businesspeople typically place a high value on

Asian businesspeople tend to value group decision making.

Mickey Monus knew that his company Phar-Mor was destined for greatness; he, therefore, felt it was okay to manipulate the accounting records to show a profit instead of a loss to get the company through the rough times. Into what ethical trap did he fall?

Because Mickey Monus took unethical actions to accomplish a desirable goal, he fell into the ends-justify-the-means trap.

Which of the following statements about intercultural ethics is most accurate?

Because codes of ethics are often sophisticated, employees often go through ethics training programs that frequently include complicated hypothetical questions. Ethics trainers teach employees to solve problems by reconciling legal requirements, company policies, and conflicting cultural norms.

Which of the following is an invisible sign of culture?

Believing that adults need to be responsible for their actions is an invisible sign of culture.

Bert is CEO of an organization with many layers in the chain of command. He is looking for ways to reduce these layers so that he can communicate more directly with the first-line employees. What organizational communication barrier is he trying to overcome?

Bert is trying to overcome barriers caused by long lines of communication.

Brianna would like to become more culturally competent. What should she do?

Brianna should do all of these (begin to think of herself as a product of her culture, understand that her culture is just one among many, and be ready to adapt as environments change).

Which of the following statements about team-based management is least accurate?

Companies prefer to hire employees who already possess the skills necessary to work effectively as part of a team.

The most prevalent communication channel in the workplace today is

E-mail is the most prevalent communication channel in the workplace today.

Which of the following statements about context is least accurate?

Edward T. Hall and other cultural anthropologists have created continuums showing high- and low-context cultures by country

Emma runs a small business and wants to improve communication among her increasingly diverse staff. Which of the following should she do?

Emma should consider having employees take part in diversity awareness training. Intercultural communication, team building, and conflict resolution are skills that can be learned in such training programs.

Which of the following statements about today's work environments is least accurate?

Even in more traditional offices, employees work in open-plan spaces with flexible workstations, shared conference rooms, and boomerang-shaped desks that save space and discourage territorial behavior while encouraging casual interactions and spontaneous collaborations.

Gordon was just hired by a company with an extremely diverse workforce. He wants to fit in immediately. What should he do?

Focus on shared experiences, mutual goals, and similar values to bring individuals together.

An example of a country with a high-context culture is

Japan is an example of a country with a high-context culture.

Jing-Ying places great value on the posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expressions of employees within the workplace. She is most likely part of a(n) ____ culture.

Jing-Ying is most likely part of a high-context culture. Members of high-context cultures tend to emphasize interpersonal relationships, nonverbal expression, physical setting, and social setting. They are more aware of the communicator's posture, voice inflection, gestures, and facial expressions.

Knowledge and information workers must be able to think critically, make sound decisions, and

Knowledge and information workers must be able to think critically, make sound decisions, and transmit information effectively across various communication channels and multiple media.

Lucy works in an office that has nonterritorial workspaces. This is new to her, and she would like to display good open office etiquette. What should she do?

Lucy should speak in a soft voice and wear headphones to cut down on noise. She should also limit chitchat, avoid eavesdropping, and show respect for her colleagues and the common space they share.

How are new information and communication technologies used to promote globalization?

New communication technologies do all of these: enable companies to conduct business anytime, anywhere, and with any customer; make geographical location virtually irrelevant; and streamline business processes and improve access to critical company information.

Peter has started a new job and has noticed that there is a lot of gossip in his new workplace. He wants to come across professionally. What is the best advice you can give him?

Peter should be aggressive if he hears rumors about himself being spread. He should determine who originated the remark, if possible, and follow up with documentation explaining what really happened.

What type of technology makes it possible to locate and identify a computing device as soon as users connect to the network?

Presence technology makes it possible to locate and identify a computing device as soon as users connect to the network. This technology is an integral part of communication devices including smartphones, laptop computers, tablets, and GPS devices.

Mina wants to use the communication medium with the highest social presence. Which of the following should she choose?

Social presence is greater in synchronous communication (live chat, IM) than in asynchronous communication (e-mail, blog post, forum post) that is rather impersonal. Therefore, Mina should choose live chat as her medium.

Which of the following statements about workplace diversity is the most accurate?

Teams members with various experiences and backgrounds are more likely to create the products that consumers demand.

Which of the following U.S. laws prohibits payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business?

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which was passed by the U.S. government in 1977, prohibits payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business.

Which of the following trade agreements expands free trade among Canada, the United States, and Mexico?

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) expands free trade among Canada, the United States, and Mexico. NAFTA has created one of the largest and richest free-trade regions on earth.

Kendra is responsible for updating her company's Facebook page with information about products, promotions, and special events. Kendra is using a communication medium called

The term "social media" describes technology that enables participants to connect and participate online in social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Covering up incidents, abusing sick days, lying to a supervisor, taking credit for a colleague's ideas, and inflating grades on a résumé are examples of

These actions are examples of unethical actions.

To improve communication and to compete more effectively, many of today's companies have

To improve communication and to compete more effectively, many of today's companies have restructured and reengineered themselves into smaller operating units and work teams.

The populations of the United States and Canada can be best described as

Today the populations of the United States and Canada can be best described as part of a tossed salad or spicy stew where people from different ethnic groups each contribute their own unique flavor.

Sandra owns a medium-sized financial services firm. She would like to make the best use of the grapevine for communication. What advice would you give her?

When employees obtain most of their company news from the grapevine, management is not releasing sufficient information through formal channels. Releasing more information through formal channels can combat this.

Which of the following statements about communicating in today's digital world is least accurate?

Which of the following statements about communicating in today's digital world is least accurate?

Which of the following statements about formal and informal communication channels is most accurate?

Which of the following statements about formal and informal communication channels is most accurate?

Which of the following statements about communication in today's business organizations is most accurate?

Wireless access is increasingly blanketing entire office buildings, airports, hotels, restaurants, school and college campuses, cities, and other public spaces.

Which of the following statements about gender differences in communication is least accurate?

Women tend to make more "we" statements; whereas, men make more "I" statements.

Which of the following statements comparing oral and written communication is least accurate?

Written communication is better when presenting formal or complex ideas.

Leonard will be traveling on business to a country where he knows bribes are a normal part of business. Which of the following is the best advice for Leonard?

instead of caving in to government payoffs, Leonard should offer nonmonetary public service benefits, technical expertise, or additional customer service in lieu of bribes.