Exam

Name___________________________________

TRUE/FALSE. Write 'T' if the statement is true and 'F' if the statement is false.
1)

If a manager clearly and articulately verbalizes instructions to a subordinate, communication can be said to have taken
place.

1)

_______
Answer

True

False

2)

In the study of management, communication generally refers to interpersonal communication.

2)

_______
Answer

True

False

3)

As employees set specific goals, work toward those goals, and receive feedback on progress toward goals, communication
is required.

3)

_______
Answer

True

False
 4)

The communication that takes place within groups is a fundamental mechanism by which members share frustrations
and feelings of satisfaction.

4)

_______
Answer

True

False

5)

Communication serves four major functions control, motivation, emotional expression, and information.

5)

_______
Answer

True

False

6)

The most important function of communication is the release for emotional expression of feelings and for fulfillment of
needs.

6)

_______
Answer

True

False

7)

The channel chosen to communicate the message cannot be affected by noise.

7)

_______
Answer

True

False

8)

The communication method that conveys personal warmth the best is face-to-face communication.

8)

_______
Answer

True

False

9)

A sender initiates a message by encoding a thought.

9)

_______
Answer

True

False

10)

The final link in the communication process is a feedback loop.

10)

______
Answer
True

False

11)

Formal presentations are the best communication method to use for scanability.

11)

______
Answer

True

False

12)

Nonverbal communication is communication transmitted without words.

12)

______
Answer

True

False

13)

The best-known types of nonverbal communication are demographics and proxemics.

13)

______
Answer

True

False

14)
Verbal intonation refers to the emphasis someone gives to words or phrases that conveys meaning.

14)

______
Answer

True

False

15)

The Arab culture is a high-context culture.

15)

______
Answer

True

False

16)

Formal communication refers to communication that follows the official chain of command or is part of the
communication required to do one's job.

16)

______
Answer

True

False

17)

Informal communication takes place when employees talk with each other in the lunchroom, as they pass in hallways, or
as they're working out at the company exercise facility.

17)

______
 Answer

True

False

18)

Downward communication is communication that cuts across both work areas and organizational levels.

18)

______
Answer

True

False

19)

In the chain network, communication flows according to the formal chain of command, both downward and upward.

19)

______
Answer

True

False

20)

The horizontal network represents communication flowing between a clearly identifiable and strong leader and others in
a work group or team.

20)

______
Answer

True
False

21)

In the wheel network, the leader serves as the hub through which all communication passes.

21)

______
Answer

True

False

22)

Information technology has significantly improved a manager's ability to monitor individual or team performance.

22)

______
Answer

True

False

23)

Electronic information is not admissible in any court system.

23)

______
Answer

True

False

24)

When personal interaction isn't physically possible, real-time collaboration software may be a better communication
choice than sending an e-mail and waiting for a response.
24)

______
Answer

True

False

25)

One customer service strategy that many service organizations use is personalization.

25)

______
Answer

True

False

26)

Repetition, not code-switching, is a technique frequently used by Arabs in communication.

26)

______
Answer

True

False

27)

Arabs use lots of gestures in their speech and tend to be indirect in their verbal communication.

27)

______
Answer
True

False

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
28)

The specific reason that the importance of effective communication for managers can't be overemphasized is that
________.

28)

______
A)

all written communication stays within the organization

B)

everything a manager does involves communicating

C)

every organization uses communications

D)

all verbal communications require face-to-face interaction

Answer

29)

Communication is the transfer and understanding of ________.

29)

______
A)

ideas

B)

words

C)

concepts

D)

meaning
 Answer

30)

For communication to be successful, meaning must be imparted and ________.

30)

______
A)

understood

B)

received by the other person

C)

feedback must be established

D)

an action must be taken by the receiver

Answer

31)

Communication between two or more people is called ________.

31)

______
A)

organizational communication

B)

extrapersonal communication
C)

intrapersonal communication

D)

interpersonal communication
Answer
D

32)

________ consists of all the patterns, networks, and systems of communication within an organization.

32)

______
A)

Interpersonal communication

B)

The grapevine
C)

Organizational communication

D)

Open communication
Answer

33)

When employees are required to communicate any job-related grievance first to their immediate manager, to follow their
job description, or to comply with company policies, communication is being used to ________.

33)

______
A)

provide a release for emotional expression

B)

control
C)

provide information
D)

motivate
Answer

B
 34)

Communication encourages ________ by clarifying to employees what is to be done, how well they're doing, and what
can be done to improve performance if it's not up to par.

34)

______
A)

control

B)

motivation
C)

emotional expression

D)

the sharing of information

Answer

35)

For many employees, their work group is a primary source of ________.

35)

______
A)

social interaction

B)

motivation
C)

stress

D)

frustration
Answer

A
 36)

Communication provides ________ that is needed to get things done in organizations.

36)

______
A)

information

B)

motivation
C)

emotional expression

D)

control
Answer

37)

There are ________ elements of the communication process.

37)

______
A)

five

B)

six

C)

nine

D)

seven
Answer

D
 38)

During the communication process, the message is converted to a symbolic form, called ________.

38)

______
A)

expanding

B)

encoding

C)

decoding

D)

deciphering
Answer

39)

Disturbances that interfere with the transmission, receipt, or feedback of a message are called ________.

39)

______
A)

noise

B)

feed forward

C)

the channel

D)

feedback
Answer

A
 40)

The process through which the symbols of a message are translated into a form that the receiver can understand is called
________.

40)

______
A)

reinstating

B)

decoding

C)

expanding

D)

encoding
Answer

41)

The final link in the communication process is ________.

41)

______
A)

feed forward

B)

decoding

C)

feedback

D)

encoding
Answer

C
 42)

Feedback returns the message to the sender and provides a check on ________.

42)

______
A)

the ability of the receiver to perform the task

B)

whether understanding has been achieved

C)

how well the receiver is doing

D)

what the sender should do the next time a message is sent

Answer

43)

Complexity capacity refers to the degree of which the communication method ________.

43)

______
A)

makes a simple message seem more complex

B)

effectively processes complex messages

C)

costs
D)

effectively processes lengthy messages

Answer

44)

Which of the following describes the number of different messages that can be transmitted using a particular method of
communication?
44)

______
A)

breadth potential

B)

complexity capacity
C)

confidentiality

D)

encoding ease
Answer

45)

An example of nonverbal communication is ________.

45)

______
A)

a written note

B)

an outline on the blackboard

C)

a student with a hand raised

D)

a billboard along the highway

Answer

46)

Which form of communication are students using to tell their instructor that class is over when they begin putting their
books, notebooks, and papers away?
46)

______
A)

filtering

B)

skilled

C)

nonverbal

D)

interpersonal
Answer

47)

Offense could be taken by a student who just asked a question of the instructor, if the instructor said, "What do you mean
by that?" - especially if the instructor used ________.

47)

______
A)

frowns and gestures

B)

personal feelings
C)

body intonations

D)

harsh verbal intonation

Answer

48)

All of the following are barriers to effective interpersonal communication except ________.
48)

______
A)

defensiveness

B)

feedback
C)

filtering

D)

selective perception
Answer

49)

________ is the deliberate manipulation of information to make it appear more favorable to the receiver.

49)

______
A)

Spin

B)

Filtering

C)

Encoding

D)

Fabricating
Answer

50)

When a person tells his or her manager what the manager wants to hear, that individual is using which of the following
barriers to effective interpersonal communication?
50)

______
A)

defensiveness

B)

feedback
C)

selective perception

D)

filtering
Answer

51)

The extent of filtering within an organization tends to be a function of the number of vertical levels in the organization
and the ________.

51)

______
A)

number of horizontal levels in the organization

B)

organizational culture
C)

degree of centralization
D)

degree of formalization
Answer

52)

Information overload occurs when ________.

52)

______
 A)

the information we've been given is too detailed

B)

too much information is provided on a subject search when using a search engine
C)

there is too much information to work with

D)

the information we've been given exceeds our capacity to process it

Answer

53)

When people feel that they're being threatened, they tend to ________.

53)

______
A)

quit their jobs

B)

to make communications impossible by using violence

C)

react in ways that give them control of the situation

D)

react in ways that reduce their ability to achieve mutual understanding

Answer

54)

Jargon is ________.

54)

______
A)

specialized terminology or technical language that members of a group use to communicate among themselves
B)

a message that means the same to the receiver as it did to the sender
 C)

a unique language spoken among accountants

D)

an organizational language
Answer

55)

________ is an example of a high context culture while ________ is an example of a low context culture.

55)

______
A)

Saudi Arabia; The United States

B)

The United States; Germany

C)

Saudi Arabia; China

D)

The United States; Saudi Arabia

Answer

56)

The average person must hear new information ________ times before they understand.

56)

______
A)

seven

B)

three

C)
nine

D)

five
Answer

57)

Communication problems are less likely to occur in organizations if the managers use ________.

57)

______
A)

body language

B)

filtering
C)

verbal intonation

D)

feedback loop
Answer

58)

Managers need to simplify language and ________ whom the message is directed so that the language can be tailored to
the receivers.

58)

______
A)

present it to

B)

write the jargon for

C)
send the communication to

D)

consider the audience to

Answer

59)

Understanding is improved by simplifying the language used in ________.

59)

______
A)

addition to carefully choosing the receiver

B)

discussions with upper managers

C)

relation to the audience intended

D)

the message and by speaking louder

Answer

60)

Listening is an active search for meaning, whereas ________ is passive.

60)

______
A)

speaking

B)

hearing

C)

decoding
 D)

encoding
Answer

61)

Listening for full meaning without making premature judgments or interpretations is called ________.

61)

______
A)

passive listening

B)

temporary listening
C)

active listening

D)

prevalent listening
Answer

62)

The average person normally speaks at a rate of about ________ words per minute.

62)

______
A)

200 to 350

B)

50 to 125

C)

125 to 200
 D)

350 to 500
Answer

63)

The average listener can comprehend ________ words per minute.

63)

______
A)

400 to 800

B)

800 to 1200

C)

more than 1200

D)

up to 400
Answer

64)

Active listening is enhanced by ________.

64)

______
A)

developing empathy with the sender

B)

developing apathy with the sender

C)

paying attention to the body language of the sender

D)

developing a system to minimize the noise in the area

 Answer

65)

Knowledge management involves encouraging the members of an organization to ________.

65)

______
A)

develop a corporate university like Hamburger University at McDonald's

B)

improve the educational level of the average employee

C)

develop new training programs to help new employees learn their jobs
D)

systematically gather information and share it with others

Answer

66)

Communication within an organization is often described as ________.

66)

______
A)

formal or informal

B)

vertical
C)

diagonal

D)

lateral
Answer

A
 67)

When a manager asks an employee to complete a task, he or she is communicating ________.

67)

______
A)

hypothetically

B)

formally

C)

theoretically

D)

informally
Answer

68)

Organizational communication that is not defined by the organization's structural hierarchy is called ________.

68)

______
A)

theoretical

B)

formal

C)

hypothetical

D)

informal
Answer

D
 69)

Downward communication is used to inform, direct, ________, and ________ employees.

69)

______
A)

discipline; reward

B)

enforce; control
C)

utilize; coordinate

D)

coordinate; evaluate
Answer

70)

Lateral communication takes place among any employees ________.

70)

______
A)

assigned to the same supervisor

B)

in the same work group

C)

on the same organizational level

D)

within the same organization

Answer

71)
Cross-functional teams rely heavily on which of the following forms of communication?

71)

______
A)

lateral

B)

upward

C)

theoretical

D)

downward
Answer

72)

When there is an interest in the efficiency and speed of communication between managers at different levels and in
different departments, then ________.

72)

______
A)

informal communication will work the fastest

B)

diagonal communication should be used

C)

lateral communication is ideal

D)

upward communication works best

Answer

73)

The increased use of e-mail facilitates ________ communication.

73)

______
A)

diagonal

B)

upward

C)

theoretical

D)

downward
Answer

74)

To form communication networks, you combine ________ communication flows.

74)

______
A)

vertical and horizontal

B)

lateral and diagonal

C)

lateral and upward

D)

lateral and downward

Answer

75)

In the all-channel network, communication flows ________.

75)

______
A)

between an identifiable and strong leader and others in the work group
B)

among the managers of a functional area of an organization

C)

in a circle until all of the members of a work group have been informed
D)

freely among all members of a formal work team

Answer

76)

If a company is concerned with high member satisfaction, which of the following communication networks is best?

76)

______
A)

horizontal network

B)

all-channel network
C)

chain network

D)

wheel network
Answer

77)

An organization's grapevine works as both ________.

77)

______
 A)

a filter and a feedback mechanism for a manager

B)

an opportunity to learn new tasks and see friends

C)

a screen and mirror to turn away and send back messages

D)

smoke and mirrors in dealing with difficult employee issues

Answer

78)

Because rumors that flow along the grapevine can never be eliminated entirely, managers can minimize the negative
consequences of rumors by ________.

78)

______
A)

informing their boss that the rumor is out

B)

being open and disclosing any new rumors to employees

C)

telling the employees that the rumor is not true

D)

communicating openly, fully, and honestly with employees

Answer

79)

Two information technology developments that seem to be driving current changes in managerial communication are
networked computer systems and ________.

79)

______
A)

wireless capabilities
 B)

the World Wide Web

C)

ubiquitous computing capabilities

D)

extranets
Answer

80)

In a networked computer system, an organization links its computers together through compatible hardware and
software ________.

80)

______
A)

and utilizes the efficiencies of the network

B)

through the internet

C)

creating an organizational network

D)

establishing intradepartmental networks

Answer

81)

A(n) ________ is a location where internet users can gain wireless access to the internet.

81)

______
A)

wifi hot spot

B)
extranet

C)

intranet

D)

web conference
Answer

82)

Although the economic benefits of information technology are obvious, managers must not forget to address the
________.

82)

______
A)

differences in organizational levels

B)

psychological drawbacks
C)

personality differences of people

D)

differences in time zones

Answer

83)

Managers need to be aware of potential legal problems from inappropriate ________.

83)

______
A)

e-mail usage

B)
voice-mail messages
C)

letters

D)

fax usage
Answer

84)

One expert suggests that electronic documents are comparable to ________.

84)

______
A)

books

B)

typed letters
C)

a witness testimony

D)

DNA evidence
Answer

85)

Employee e-mails or blogs should not communicateinadvertently or purposefully________.

85)

______
A)

a company's security details

B)

personal information
 C)

legal issues of the company

D)

proprietary information
Answer

86)

Corporate computer and e-mail systems should be protected against ________ and ________.

86)

______
A)

employees; managers

B)

hackers; spam
C)

legal; security problems

D)

blogs; wikis
Answer

87)

What can make communication even more difficult?

87)

______
A)

legal issues

B)

security issues
C)
online information databases

D)

lack of personal interaction

Answer

88)

What do today's managers need to do with the organization's knowledge resources?

88)

______
A)

learn from employees

B)

make it easy for employees to communicate and share their knowledge

C)

share their knowledge with employees

D)

protect it from employees

Answer

89)

In addition to online information databases for sharing knowledge, some knowledge management experts suggest that
organizations create ________.

89)

______
A)

corporate universities

B)

communities of practice
C)

communities of expertise
 D)

online communities for customers

Answer

90)

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who
deepen their knowledge and expertise by ________.

90)

______
A)

attending in-house training sessions

B)

going to periodic trade shows and professional conferences

C)

taking professional development courses

D)

interacting on an ongoing basis

Answer

91)

To make communities of practice work, it is important to ________.

91)

______
A)

maintain strong interpersonal ties through effective communication

B)

communicate with the community outside of the company

C)

make participation for key knowledge workers mandatory

D)

provide incentives for employees to participate

Answer
A

92)

Effective communication in a customer service setting relies upon customer service personnel recognizing the three key
components in any service delivery process ________.

92)

______
A)

the customer, the service organization, and the individual service provider
B)

finding out the customer's needs, meeting their needs, and following up
C)

the customer's expectations, the customer's desires, and the customer's satisfaction
D)

the customer's expectations, the customer's perceptions of the quality of the service, and customer satisfaction
Answer

93)

The ability of customer service employees to listen actively and communicate effectively goes a long way ________.

93)

______
A)

in determining whether the customer will return

B)

in making sure the customer has no hard feelings toward the company
C)

toward making sure the problem doesn't happen again

D)

in whether or not the situation is resolved to the customer's satisfaction

Answer

94)
Politically correct speech is something managers can't ignore; however, ________.

94)

______
A)

a few poorly chosen words by a single employee are insufficient grounds for a lawsuit against the organization
B)

by eliminating words from our vocabulary, we reduce our ability to communicate

C)

insensitivity is not a fireable offense if you do your job well at most firms
D)

some people are just overly sensitive and you can't avoid "insulting" them, no matter what you do
Answer

95)

Code-switching in Arab communication patterns primarily involves ________.

95)

______
A)

switching the degree of verbal intonation

B)

switching from from formal communication to informal communication or vice-versa

C)

switching dialects or languages

D)

switching from verbal communication to nonverbal communication or vice-versa

Answer

96)

A characteristic of Arab communication patterns is that it includes ________.

96)

______
 A)

elaborateness and assertion

B)

repetition and directness

C)

code-switching and emotional appeal

D)

assertiveness and simplicity

Answer

97)

In some Arab countries, lowering the gaze among same-sex communicators is usually a sign of ________.

97)

______
A)

disrespect

B)

fear

C)

respect

D)

professionalism
Answer

98)

Some non-Arabs may perceive ________ to be a sign of lack of objectivity.

98)

______
 A)

emotional appeal

B)

repetition
C)

indirectness

D)

high confidence
Answer

Maya - Communications Expert (Scenario)

Maya works as the human resource manager for Horizon Software, Inc., a software development firm that focuses on the
development and implementation of customized JAVA-based applications for big companies. Unfortunately, the past few
months have been challenging because employees have become upset due to the lack of communication among company
managers. Maya decided that it was imperative to conduct an organizational communication workshop for these
managers.

99)

Maya begins by defining communication as "________ and understanding of meaning."

99)

______
A)

the extraction

B)

the broadcast

C)

the expression

D)

the transfer
Answer

D
 100)

Maya warned that the entire communication process is susceptible to ________disturbances that interfere with the
transmission, receipt, or feedback of a message.

100)

_____
A)

flux

B)

noise

C)

static

D)

vibration
Answer

101)

Maya makes a point to differentiate between interpersonal communication and organizational communication. She
explains that the concept of organizational communication encapsulates ________.

101)

_____
A)

the transfer of knowledge within the organization

B)

communication technology within the organization

C)

advertising
D)

patterns of communication within the organization

Answer

D
 102)

Maya explains that communication serves four major management functions within the organization, namely motivation,
emotional expression, information, and ________.

102)

_____
A)

evaluation

B)

interpersonal relations
C)

control

D)

feedback
Answer

103)

Samir, a company manager attending the communication workshop, asked Maya to clarify the various elements of the
communication process. Maya replied that elements of the communication process include the ________.

103)

_____
A)

facts

B)

sender

C)

manipulation

D)

control factors
Answer

B
 104)

At the conclusion of the communication workshop, Maya informed the managers that the best-known types of nonverbal
communication are ________.

104)

_____
A)

proxemics and demographics

B)

body language and verbal intonation

C)

body language and proxemics

D)

body intonation and demographics

Answer

The Memorandum (Scenario)

Jamil is an engineer by training and manager of a work team that consists of two engineers, four production workers, an
accountant, and a purchasing manager. They are about to embark on a new project for their company. Jamil has prepared
a memorandum explaining to them the objectives of the work team. Some of the production workers and the accountant
have come to see Jamil and ask for clarification about the memorandum.

105)

When Jamil prepared the memorandum and wrote the words on the paper, he was involved in ________.

105)

_____
A)

organizational communication

B)

decoding the message

C)

information technology
 D)

channeling the message

Answer

106)

Jamil held a meeting with the work team to determine what had gone wrong. It was determined that members of the
work team had many varied experiences in the company, different technical backgrounds, and varying emotions about
working on the assignment. These differences among the work team members created ________ for Jamil's
communication.

106)

_____
A)

decoding

B)

feedback
C)

noise

D)

encoded messages
Answer

107)

The accountant, in particular, stated to Jamil that he had difficulty understanding some of the technical terms used in the
memorandum. These technical terms are commonly known as ________.

107)

_____
A)

the channel

B)

noise
 C)

encoding

D)

jargon
Answer

108)

The team began work on the project and reported to Jamil that they had started doing as he had asked in the
memorandum, but Jamil noticed immediately that the work team did not appear to be doing what he thought that they
should. The work team's performance provided Jamil with ________.

108)

_____
A)

noise

B)

the message

C)

feedback

D)

decoding
Answer

Ghada's Presentation (Scenario)

Ghada, the CEO of Excalibur Manufacturing Company, had concluded that the company would have to reduce its
employee group by 10 percent within the next four weeks due to a decreased demand for the products the company
manufactured. She spent over 30 hours preparing charts, tables, graphs, diagrams, and other forms of visual aids for her
presentation to the employees about the upcoming reduction in force so that they could understand the reason and feel
better about the company.

109)

When Ghada prepared the visual aids to help the employees understand and feel better about the company, what was she
doing to the message she had to deliver?
109)

_____
A)

filtering it

B)

selectively perceiving it
C)

deliberating it

D)

communicating it upward
Answer

110)

By the time that Ghada had finished the presentation to the employees, she had spoken for one and a half hours, shown
14 visual aids, and no one asked a question. The employees were probably dealing with which of the following barriers to
effective communications?

110)

_____
A)

receiver emotions

B)

information overload
C)

selective perception

D)

defensiveness
Answer

111)

As the employees began to leave the meeting room, some were overheard grumbling that those at the top were just profit-
rakers, that it didn't make any difference to Ghada if employees lost their jobs, and that if the company wanted loyalty, it
should hire a dog. These statements are the result of which barrier to effective communications?

111)

_____
A)

information overload

B)

downward communication
C)

selective perception

D)

defensiveness
Answer

112)

One employee in the finish department told her coworkers that she heard Ghada say that "the company was laying off the
10 percent so that it could boost the dividends paid to stockholders at the end of the quarter, and that the board of
directors was worried about the return on assets." These claims are most likely the result of which barrier to effective
communications?

112)

_____
A)

verbal intonation

B)

filtering
C)

information overload

D)

language
Answer

Flow of communication (Scenario)

Recently the employees of Sama Enterprises, Inc., received a letter from the vice president of operations explaining that a
new production facility would be built in Alexandria. It was also stated that about one-fourth of the employees from the
current Alexandria facility would be transferred to the new facility and if employees wanted to volunteer for the transfer,
they could do so by going to the human resource office and filling out a request form. Sami, a production supervisor, first
went to Fadia, the purchasing manager, who had already volunteered to transfer, to discuss with her the possibility of
becoming her inventory control supervisor at the new facility. Fadia told Sami that Rana, the current inventory control
supervisor, would not be transferring and that she would consider his request.

113)

The letter from the vice president to the employees is an example of which type of organizational communication?

113)

_____
A)

informal

B)

horizontal

C)

lateral

D)

formal
Answer

114)

When Sami went to the Human Resource office and applied for transfer to the new facility, he was participating in which
type of organizational communication?

114)

_____
A)

lateral

B)

downward

C)
formal

D)

diagonal
Answer

115)

If Sami had talked with his co-supervisors prior to going to talk with Fadia, he would have been involved in which type
of organizational communication?

115)

_____
A)

downward

B)

lateral

C)

internal

D)

formal
Answer

116)

When Sami went and talked with Fadia, he was involved in which type of organizational communication?

116)

_____
A)

lateral

B)

diagonal
 C)

upward

D)

horizontal
Answer

Types of Communication Networks (Scenario)

Rami is a regional sales manager for a health care information technology firm called AfiaTecx, based in Amman, Jordan.
Rami is responsible for overseeing 15 salespeople covering the whole of the Levant. When the company was smaller and
there were fewer salespeople, communication flowed freely from the field back into all areas of the home officecustomer
service, development, accounting and finance, and top management. However, as the company has grown, its structure
has become more mechanistic. Management demanded that communications to and from the field flow according to the
formal chain of command. As a result, the firm has been slower to recognize shifts in the market and respond to important
market-based information delivered by the sales force. As a result, salespeople have become more reluctant to forward
information to the home office because they perceive that it won't be acted upon anyway. The management team has
asked Rami to review this issue and provide recommendations for improving this situation.

117)

In times past, information flowed freely from the sales force to all areas of the home office. This is most representative of
what kind of communications network?

117)

_____
A)

wheel network

B)

all-channel network
C)

chain network

D)

informal network
Answer

118)
Once the company grew and became more mechanistic, management insisted that information flow vertically according
to the authority structure. This is most representative of what kind of communications network?

118)

_____
A)

wheel network

B)

formal network
C)

all-channel network

D)

chain network
Answer

119)

Rami believes that it might be more effective if incoming market-based information and outgoing response and direction
were to flow through a central figure, the regional sales manager for each region. This would be most representative of
what kind of communications network?

119)

_____
A)

informal network

B)

wheel network
C)

chain network

D)

all-channel network
Answer

Bassam (Scenario)
Bassam is a chemical engineer and research lab manager for a big company in Dubai.

120)

Bassam has been charged with overseeing the development of a master library of samples linked to a database that
explains their properties and manufacturing processes. Once completed, this database will be made available to fellow
employees via a secure intranet, making it easier for employees to communicate, collaborate, and learn from each other.
This project could be generally categorized as ________.

120)

_____
A)

a waste of taxpayer dollars

B)

a knowledge management initiative

C)

theory in use

D)

organizational learning
Answer

121)

It is budget cutting season and the director of the research facility is concerned for the future. In a brainstorming session,
he asks his managers how they might better pool the expertise, knowledge, and passion of personnel to create a more
effective organization. Bassam responds that many firms have created ________ in order to deepen the knowledge and
expertise of employees by interacting on an ongoing basis.

121)

_____
A)

communities of knowledge

B)

communities of practice
C)

communities of learning
 D)

best practice communities

Answer

122)

Bassam realizes that interactive web sites, e-mail, and videoconferencing are essential communication tools but can create
the same communication problems that individuals face, such as

122)

_____
A)

feedback

B)

over-documentation
C)

active listening

D)

non-verbal communication
Answer

ESSAY. Write your answer in the space provided or on a separate sheet of paper.
123)

In a short essay, explain why communication is important to managers and organizations. What four functions does it
serve?
Answer

Communication serves four major functions control, motivation, emotional expression, and information. Communication
acts to control employee behavior in several ways. Organizations have authority hierarchies and formal guidelines that
employees are expected to follow. For instance, when employees are required to communicate any job-related grievance
first to their immediate manager, to follow their job description, or to comply with company policies, communication is
being used to control. But informal communication also controls behavior. When work groups tease a member who's
working too hard or producing too much (making the rest of the group look bad), they're informally controlling the
member's behavior. Communication encourages motivation by clarifying to employees what is to be done, how well
they're doing, and what can be done to improve performance if it's not up to par. As employees set specific goals, work
toward those goals, and receive feedback on progress toward goals, communication is required. For many employees,
their work group is a primary source of social interaction. The communication that takes place within the group is a
fundamental mechanism by which members share frustrations and feelings of satisfaction. Communication, therefore,
provides a release for emotional expression of feelings and for fulfillment of social needs. Finally, individuals and groups
need information to get things done in organizations. Communication provides that information. No one of these four
functions is more important than the others. For groups to work effectively, they need to maintain some form of control
over members, motivate members to perform, provide a means for emotional expression, and make decisions. You can
assume that almost every communication interaction that takes place in a group or organization is fulfilling one or more
of these four functions.

124)

In a short essay, explain the communication patterns in Arab culture.

Answer

While Arabic is one language, there are many "forms" of Arabic. There is (1) the unequalled Arabic of the Quran, (2) the
modern standard Arabic or Fusha used by government officials, media, and public figures across the Arab world, and (3)
the Colloquial Arabic, used in every day communication, which differs significantly from one country to another.
Arabs switch codes very frequently, whether switching dialects, or switching from Arabic to English or French.
Code switching helps bilinguals to choose certain appropriate words that have certain meanings or points and might help
in adjusting the course of a conversation. Repetition is a major feature of Arabic communication; it is a core factor of the
Arabic language, regardless of the situation. Even though Arabs tend to use a lot of proverbs and ritualistic phrases when
complimenting others, many repetitive formulas seem to be related to religious oaths, but while they are used in swearing
for testimony, they are also used in the daily communication between Arabs. In Arab communication, we find a lot of
indirectness. This is not indented to be a negative action; instead it is done to avoid unpleasant or embarrassing situations.
In such situations Arabs tend to go along with what others say or want, also described as Arab musayara.
Arab culture is a high-context culture, with little information actually said in words; more dependency is given to
the physical surroundings, and courtesy and saving face is very important. Another characteristic of Arabic
communicative style is elaborateness. Two factors that are found in many Arab communication styles that explain
elaborateness are exaggeration (mubalagha) and assertion (tawkeed). Arab speakers tend to find it effective to use more
words than what would be seen as necessary by speakers in other languages. Arabs use mostly "presentation" persuasion,
which means that a large part of the persuasiveness of an idea lies in the way this idea is presented. That is why Arab
speakers tend to repeat and resort to emotional appeal (effectiveness) in their speech. Some non-Arabs may perceive this
to be a sign of lack of objectivity, which may cause some intercultural communication difficulties.
Arabs use lots of gestures in their speech. They tend to be indirect in their verbal communication but they
establish eye contact within same-sex communicators. Sometimes, when two individuals of different sexes or varying
powers communicate, eye contact tends to be minimized. A communicator in formal or social situations may lower his
gaze as a sign of respect and reverence to the other. Arab societies are considered "contact" cultures, where people (within
same sex communicators) stand close together and touch frequently. Arabs seem to be more tolerantcompared to many
Westernersto close proximity in public spaces.

125)

In a short essay, list the seven elements of the communication process and explain the process of interpersonal
communication.
Answer

The seven elements of the communication process are (1) the communication source, (2) the message, (3) encoding, (4) the
channel, (5) decoding, (6) the receiver, and (7) feedback. Before communication can take place, a purpose, expressed as a
message to be conveyed, must exist. It passes between a source (the sender) and a receiver. The message is converted to a
symbolic form (called encoding) and passed by way of some medium (channel) to the receiver, who retranslates the
sender's message (called decoding). The result is the transfer of meaning from one person to another. In addition, note
that the entire process is susceptible to noisedisturbances that interfere with the transmission, receipt, or feedback of a
message. Typical examples of noise include illegible print, phone static, inattention by the receiver, or background sounds
of machinery or coworkers. Anything that interferes with understanding can be noise, and noise can create distortion at
any point in the communication process.
 126)

In a short essay, discuss the two best-known types of nonverbal communication. Include a specific example of each type
of nonverbal communication to support your answer.
Answer

Body language refers to gestures, facial expressions, and other body movements that convey meaning. A person frowning
"says" something different from one who's smiling. Hand motions, facial expressions, and other gestures can
communicate emotions or temperaments such as aggression, fear, shyness, arrogance, joy, and anger. Verbal intonation
refers to the emphasis someone gives to words or phrases that conveys meaning. To illustrate how intonations can change
the meaning of a message, consider the student who asks their instructor a question. The instructor replies, "What do you
mean by that?" The student's reaction will vary, depending on the tone of the instructor's response. A soft, smooth vocal
tone conveys interest and creates a different meaning from one that is abrasive and puts a strong emphasis on saying the
last word.

127)

In a short essay, list and discuss four of the six barriers to effective communication that managers face. Include a specific
example of each barrier to support your answer.
Answer

a. Filteringthe deliberate manipulation of information to make it appear more favorable to the receiver. For example,
when a person tells his or her manager what the manager wants to hear, that individual is filtering information. The
extent of filtering tends to be a function of the number of vertical levels in the organization and the organizational culture.
The more vertical levels there are in an organization, the more opportunities there are for filtering.
b. Emotionshow a receiver feels when a message is received influences how he or she interprets it. Extreme emotions
are most likely to hinder effective communication. In such instances, people often disregard rational and objective
thinking processes and substitute emotional judgments.
c. Information overloadoccurs when the amount of information a person is required to work with exceeds that
individual's processing capacity. What happens when individuals have more information than they can sort or use? They
tend to select out, ignore, pass over, or forget information. Or, they may put off further processing until the overload
situation is over.
d. Defensivenesswhen people feel that they're being threatened, they tend to react in ways that reduce their ability to
achieve mutual understanding. That is, they become defensiveengaging in behaviors such as verbally attacking others,
making sarcastic remarks, being overly judgmental, and questioning others' motives.
e. Languagewords mean different things to different people. Age, education, and cultural background are three of the
more obvious variables that influence the language a person uses and the definitions he or she gives to words. People may
speak the same language, but use of that language is far from uniform. Senders tend to assume that the words and
phrases they use mean the same to the receiver as they do to them. This is incorrect and creates communication barriers.
f. National cultureinterpersonal communication isn't conducted in the same way around the world. In the United
States, communication patterns tend to be individual oriented and clearly spelled out. U.S. managers rely heavily on
memoranda, announcements, position papers, and other formal forms of communication to state their positions on issues.
In collectivist countries, such as some Arab countries, there's more interpersonal contact, and face-to-face communication
is encouraged.

128)

In a short essay, list and briefly describe three common communication networks, or patterns of communication, that
emerge in organizations. Is any one network preferable to others? If so, why. If not, what factors influence which network
is best for a particular situation?
 Answer

a. Chain networkcommunication flows according to the formal chain of command, both downward and upward. If
accuracy is important, the chain network works well.
b. Wheel networkcommunication flows between a clearly identifiable and strong leader and others in a work group or
team. The leader serves as a hub through which communication passes. If having a strong, identifiable leader is important
to the organization or work unit, the wheel network is the best communication network. Accuracy is also very high with
the wheel network.
c. All-channel networkcommunication flows freely among all members of a work team. If high member satisfaction is
a concern, the all-channel network is preferable.

129)

In a short essay, explain two main communication challenges that new technology has created.
Answer

Managers are learning, the hard way sometimes, that all this new technology has created special communication
challenges. The two main ones are (1) legal and security issues and (2) lack of personal interaction. Although email is a
quick and easy way to communicate, managers need to be aware of potential legal problems from inappropriate e-mail
usage. Electronic information is potentially admissible in court. Says one expert, "Today, email and instant messaging are
the electronic equivalent of DNA evidence." But e-mail's legal problems aren't the only issue facing managers. Security
concerns are another. Managers need to ensure that confidential information is kept confidential. Employee e-mails and
blogs should not communicateinadvertently or purposelyproprietary information. Corporate computer and e-mail
systems should be protected against hackers (people who try to gain unauthorized access to computer systems) and spam
(electronic junk mail). These are serious issues that managers and organizations must address if the benefits that
communication technology offers are to be realized. Another communication challenge posed by the internet age we live
and work in is the lack of personal interaction. Even when two people are communicating face-to-face, understanding is
not always achieved. However, when communication takes place in a virtual environment, it can be really hard to achieve
understanding and collaborate on getting work done. Some companies have gone so far as to ban e-mail on certain days
of the week. Others have simply encouraged employees to collaborate more in person. Yet, there are situations and times
when personal interaction isn't physically possibleyour colleagues work across the continent or even across the globe. In
those instances, real-time collaboration software (such as private workplace wikis, blogs, instant messengers, and other
types of groupware) may be a better communication choice than sending an e-mail and waiting for a response.

130)

In a short essay, define the term "community of practice." What are some key concepts for organizations seeking to build a
strong community of practice?
Answer

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who
deepen their knowledge and expertise in that area by interacting on an ongoing basis. Keys to this concept include
meeting on a regular basis and using information exchanged to improve the organization in some way. Maintaining
strong human interaction through communication tools such as interactive websites, message boards, chat rooms, e-mail,
and videoconferencing is essential. Additionally, these groups will face the same barriers to effective communication that
offline groups face. Therefore, differences can be resolved in similar fashion as in face-to-face conflicts, that is, through
techniques such as feedback, simple language, active listening, constraining emotions, and watching for nonverbal cues.

131)

In a short essay, explain the importance of communication in regards to how it can have a significant impact on a
customer's satisfaction with the service and the likelihood of being a repeat customer.
 Answer

Managers in service organizations need to make sure that employees who interact with customers are communicating
appropriately and effectively with those customers. How? By first recognizing the three components in any service
delivery process the customer, the service organization, and the individual service provider. Each plays a role in whether
communication is working. Obviously, managers don't have a lot of control over what or how the customer
communicates,
but they can influence the other two.

1)

FALSE
2)

FALSE
3)

TRUE
4)

TRUE
5)

TRUE
6)

FALSE
7)

FALSE
8)

TRUE
9)

TRUE
10)

TRUE
11)

FALSE
12)

TRUE
13)

FALSE
14)

TRUE
 15)

TRUE
16)

TRUE
17)

TRUE
18)

FALSE
19)

TRUE
20)

FALSE
21)

TRUE
22)

TRUE
23)

FALSE
24)

TRUE
25)

TRUE
26)

FALSE
27)

TRUE
28)

B
29)

D
30)

A
31)

D
 32)

C
33)

B
34)

B
35)

A
36)

A
37)

D
38)

B
39)

A
40)

B
41)

C
42)

B
43)

B
44)

A
45)

C
46)

C
47)

D
48)

B
 49)

B
50)

D
51)

B
52)

D
53)

D
54)

A
55)

A
56)

A
57)

D
58)

D
59)

C
60)

B
61)

C
62)

C
63)

D
64)

A
65)

D
 66)

A
67)

B
68)

D
69)

D
70)

C
71)

A
72)

B
73)

A
74)

A
75)

D
76)

B
77)

A
78)

D
79)

A
80)

C
81)

A
82)

B
 83)

A
84)

D
85)

D
86)

B
87)

D
88)

B
89)

B
90)

D
91)

A
92)

A
93)

D
94)

B
95)

C
96)

C
97)

C
98)

A
99)

D
100)

B
101)

D
102)

C
103)

B
104)

B
105)

A
106)

C
107)

D
108)

C
109)

A
110)

B
111)

D
112)

D
113)

D
114)

C
115)

B
116)

B
117)

B
118)

D
119)

B
120)

B
121)

B
122)

B
123)

Communication serves four major functions control, motivation, emotional expression, and information. Communication
acts to control employee behavior in several ways. Organizations have authority hierarchies and formal guidelines that
employees are expected to follow. For instance, when employees are required to communicate any job-related grievance
first to their immediate manager, to follow their job description, or to comply with company policies, communication is
being used to control. But informal communication also controls behavior. When work groups tease a member who's
working too hard or producing too much (making the rest of the group look bad), they're informally controlling the
member's behavior. Communication encourages motivation by clarifying to employees what is to be done, how well
they're doing, and what can be done to improve performance if it's not up to par. As employees set specific goals, work
toward those goals, and receive feedback on progress toward goals, communication is required. For many employees,
their work group is a primary source of social interaction. The communication that takes place within the group is a
fundamental mechanism by which members share frustrations and feelings of satisfaction. Communication, therefore,
provides a release for emotional expression of feelings and for fulfillment of social needs. Finally, individuals and groups
need information to get things done in organizations. Communication provides that information. No one of these four
functions is more important than the others. For groups to work effectively, they need to maintain some form of control
over members, motivate members to perform, provide a means for emotional expression, and make decisions. You can
assume that almost every communication interaction that takes place in a group or organization is fulfilling one or more
of these four functions.
124)

While Arabic is one language, there are many "forms" of Arabic. There is (1) the unequalled Arabic of the Quran, (2) the
modern standard Arabic or Fusha used by government officials, media, and public figures across the Arab world, and (3)
the Colloquial Arabic, used in every day communication, which differs significantly from one country to another.
Arabs switch codes very frequently, whether switching dialects, or switching from Arabic to English or French.
Code switching helps bilinguals to choose certain appropriate words that have certain meanings or points and might help
in adjusting the course of a conversation. Repetition is a major feature of Arabic communication; it is a core factor of the
Arabic language, regardless of the situation. Even though Arabs tend to use a lot of proverbs and ritualistic phrases when
complimenting others, many repetitive formulas seem to be related to religious oaths, but while they are used in swearing
for testimony, they are also used in the daily communication between Arabs. In Arab communication, we find a lot of
indirectness. This is not indented to be a negative action; instead it is done to avoid unpleasant or embarrassing situations.
In such situations Arabs tend to go along with what others say or want, also described as Arab musayara.
Arab culture is a high-context culture, with little information actually said in words; more dependency is given to
the physical surroundings, and courtesy and saving face is very important. Another characteristic of Arabic
communicative style is elaborateness. Two factors that are found in many Arab communication styles that explain
elaborateness are exaggeration (mubalagha) and assertion (tawkeed). Arab speakers tend to find it effective to use more
words than what would be seen as necessary by speakers in other languages. Arabs use mostly "presentation" persuasion,
which means that a large part of the persuasiveness of an idea lies in the way this idea is presented. That is why Arab
speakers tend to repeat and resort to emotional appeal (effectiveness) in their speech. Some non-Arabs may perceive this
to be a sign of lack of objectivity, which may cause some intercultural communication difficulties.
Arabs use lots of gestures in their speech. They tend to be indirect in their verbal communication but they
establish eye contact within same-sex communicators. Sometimes, when two individuals of different sexes or varying
powers communicate, eye contact tends to be minimized. A communicator in formal or social situations may lower his
gaze as a sign of respect and reverence to the other. Arab societies are considered "contact" cultures, where people (within
same sex communicators) stand close together and touch frequently. Arabs seem to be more tolerantcompared to many
Westernersto close proximity in public spaces.
125)

The seven elements of the communication process are (1) the communication source, (2) the message, (3) encoding, (4) the
channel, (5) decoding, (6) the receiver, and (7) feedback. Before communication can take place, a purpose, expressed as a
message to be conveyed, must exist. It passes between a source (the sender) and a receiver. The message is converted to a
symbolic form (called encoding) and passed by way of some medium (channel) to the receiver, who retranslates the
sender's message (called decoding). The result is the transfer of meaning from one person to another. In addition, note
that the entire process is susceptible to noisedisturbances that interfere with the transmission, receipt, or feedback of a
message. Typical examples of noise include illegible print, phone static, inattention by the receiver, or background sounds
of machinery or coworkers. Anything that interferes with understanding can be noise, and noise can create distortion at
any point in the communication process.
126)

Body language refers to gestures, facial expressions, and other body movements that convey meaning. A person frowning
"says" something different from one who's smiling. Hand motions, facial expressions, and other gestures can
communicate emotions or temperaments such as aggression, fear, shyness, arrogance, joy, and anger. Verbal intonation
refers to the emphasis someone gives to words or phrases that conveys meaning. To illustrate how intonations can change
the meaning of a message, consider the student who asks their instructor a question. The instructor replies, "What do you
mean by that?" The student's reaction will vary, depending on the tone of the instructor's response. A soft, smooth vocal
tone conveys interest and creates a different meaning from one that is abrasive and puts a strong emphasis on saying the
last word.
127)

a. Filteringthe deliberate manipulation of information to make it appear more favorable to the receiver. For example,
when a person tells his or her manager what the manager wants to hear, that individual is filtering information. The
extent of filtering tends to be a function of the number of vertical levels in the organization and the organizational culture.
The more vertical levels there are in an organization, the more opportunities there are for filtering.
b. Emotionshow a receiver feels when a message is received influences how he or she interprets it. Extreme emotions
are most likely to hinder effective communication. In such instances, people often disregard rational and objective
thinking processes and substitute emotional judgments.
c. Information overloadoccurs when the amount of information a person is required to work with exceeds that
individual's processing capacity. What happens when individuals have more information than they can sort or use? They
tend to select out, ignore, pass over, or forget information. Or, they may put off further processing until the overload
situation is over.
d. Defensivenesswhen people feel that they're being threatened, they tend to react in ways that reduce their ability to
achieve mutual understanding. That is, they become defensiveengaging in behaviors such as verbally attacking others,
making sarcastic remarks, being overly judgmental, and questioning others' motives.
e. Languagewords mean different things to different people. Age, education, and cultural background are three of the
more obvious variables that influence the language a person uses and the definitions he or she gives to words. People may
speak the same language, but use of that language is far from uniform. Senders tend to assume that the words and
phrases they use mean the same to the receiver as they do to them. This is incorrect and creates communication barriers.
f. National cultureinterpersonal communication isn't conducted in the same way around the world. In the United
States, communication patterns tend to be individual oriented and clearly spelled out. U.S. managers rely heavily on
memoranda, announcements, position papers, and other formal forms of communication to state their positions on issues.
In collectivist countries, such as some Arab countries, there's more interpersonal contact, and face-to-face communication
is encouraged.
128)

a. Chain networkcommunication flows according to the formal chain of command, both downward and upward. If
accuracy is important, the chain network works well.
b. Wheel networkcommunication flows between a clearly identifiable and strong leader and others in a work group or
team. The leader serves as a hub through which communication passes. If having a strong, identifiable leader is important
to the organization or work unit, the wheel network is the best communication network. Accuracy is also very high with
the wheel network.
c. All-channel networkcommunication flows freely among all members of a work team. If high member satisfaction is
a concern, the all-channel network is preferable.
129)

Managers are learning, the hard way sometimes, that all this new technology has created special communication
challenges. The two main ones are (1) legal and security issues and (2) lack of personal interaction. Although email is a
quick and easy way to communicate, managers need to be aware of potential legal problems from inappropriate e-mail
usage. Electronic information is potentially admissible in court. Says one expert, "Today, email and instant messaging are
the electronic equivalent of DNA evidence." But e-mail's legal problems aren't the only issue facing managers. Security
concerns are another. Managers need to ensure that confidential information is kept confidential. Employee e-mails and
blogs should not communicateinadvertently or purposelyproprietary information. Corporate computer and e-mail
systems should be protected against hackers (people who try to gain unauthorized access to computer systems) and spam
(electronic junk mail). These are serious issues that managers and organizations must address if the benefits that
communication technology offers are to be realized. Another communication challenge posed by the internet age we live
and work in is the lack of personal interaction. Even when two people are communicating face-to-face, understanding is
not always achieved. However, when communication takes place in a virtual environment, it can be really hard to achieve
understanding and collaborate on getting work done. Some companies have gone so far as to ban e-mail on certain days
of the week. Others have simply encouraged employees to collaborate more in person. Yet, there are situations and times
when personal interaction isn't physically possibleyour colleagues work across the continent or even across the globe. In
those instances, real-time collaboration software (such as private workplace wikis, blogs, instant messengers, and other
types of groupware) may be a better communication choice than sending an e-mail and waiting for a response.
130)

Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who
deepen their knowledge and expertise in that area by interacting on an ongoing basis. Keys to this concept include
meeting on a regular basis and using information exchanged to improve the organization in some way. Maintaining
strong human interaction through communication tools such as interactive websites, message boards, chat rooms, e-mail,
and videoconferencing is essential. Additionally, these groups will face the same barriers to effective communication that
offline groups face. Therefore, differences can be resolved in similar fashion as in face-to-face conflicts, that is, through
techniques such as feedback, simple language, active listening, constraining emotions, and watching for nonverbal cues.
131)

Managers in service organizations need to make sure that employees who interact with customers are communicating
appropriately and effectively with those customers. How? By first recognizing the three components in any service
delivery process the customer, the service organization, and the individual service provider. Each plays a role in whether
communication is working. Obviously, managers don't have a lot of control over what or how the customer
communicates,
but they can influence the other two.