Question 1

Positions are stances that you take or recommendations that you make based on a set of conclusions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Facts are statements that

Accepted Answer

A)  are subjective and differ from situation to situation. 
B)  are based on assumptions. 
C)  can be relied on with a fair amount of certainty. 
D)  are fictitious in nature. 
E)  are inherently ambiguous in nature. 
A)  are subjective and differ from situation to situation. 
B)  are based on assumptions. 
C)  can be relied on with a fair amount of certainty. 
D)  are fictitious in nature. 
E)  are inherently ambiguous in nature. C

Question 3

Henry, a manager at a small shipping company, wants to install a new system for sorting packages that uses computer technology to read bar codes containing all the pertinent information. He writes a proposal and, in it, states that the U.S. Postal Service uses just such a system. How effective is Henry's analogy? Explain.

Accepted Answer

Henry's analogy is weak because a small shipping company handles far fewer packages that the U.S. Postal Service. His managers could easily conclude that they do not need the type of system used by such a giant shipper. Weak analogies lead to inaccurate conclusions and recommendations and therefore should be avoided when writing business messages.

Question 4

Which of the following is typically included in the reviewing stage of writing an effective business message?

Accepted Answer

A)  setting a positive and other-oriented tone 
B)  ensuring that the communication is fair 
C)  finding the needs of the audience 
D)  identifying the primary message and key points 
E)  making the message easy to navigate 
A)  setting a positive and other-oriented tone 
B)  ensuring that the communication is fair 
C)  finding the needs of the audience 
D)  identifying the primary message and key points 
E)  making the message easy to navigate

Question 5

In content and form, a business message should show that you have the interests of your audience in mind.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In the course of creating an effective business message, excellent business thinkers are most likely to

Accepted Answer

A)  gather information from one strong source rather than from a variety of sources. 
B)  make well-reasoned conclusions and solutions. 
C)  begin jotting down a rough draft right away to capture their ideas. 
D)  encourage one-way linear thinking and a rigid approach to business problems. 
E)  avoid using the other-oriented tone in their text. 
A)  gather information from one strong source rather than from a variety of sources. 
B)  make well-reasoned conclusions and solutions. 
C)  begin jotting down a rough draft right away to capture their ideas. 
D)  encourage one-way linear thinking and a rigid approach to business problems. 
E)  avoid using the other-oriented tone in their text.

Question 7

In the context of dealing with business problems, which of the following should ideally be the first step?

Accepted Answer

A)  analyzing the business problem 
B)  clarifying business objectives 
C)  formulating an alternative business plan 
D)  identifying the business problem 
E)  acquiring data about the business problem 
A)  analyzing the business problem 
B)  clarifying business objectives 
C)  formulating an alternative business plan 
D)  identifying the business problem 
E)  acquiring data about the business problem

Question 8

Which of the following is one of the three-components of the AIM planning process for developing influential messages?

Accepted Answer

A)  message review 
B)  message structuring 
C)  idea analysis 
D)  inductive structure 
E)  analysis of the medium 
A)  message review 
B)  message structuring 
C)  idea analysis 
D)  inductive structure 
E)  analysis of the medium

Question 9

The difference between the deductive approach and the inductive approach is that

Accepted Answer

A)  in the inductive approach, the order of supporting ideas is unimportant. 
B)  in the inductive approach, the supporting reasons are placed before the primary message. 
C)  in the deductive approach, the supporting reasons follow the call to action. 
D)  in the deductive approach, positions are based on assumptions, not facts. 
E)  in the deductive approach, the business argument concludes with the primary message. 
A)  in the inductive approach, the order of supporting ideas is unimportant. 
B)  in the inductive approach, the supporting reasons are placed before the primary message. 
C)  in the deductive approach, the supporting reasons follow the call to action. 
D)  in the deductive approach, positions are based on assumptions, not facts. 
E)  in the deductive approach, the business argument concludes with the primary message.

Question 10

What are the common characteristics of excellent business thinkers?

Accepted Answer

Excellent business thinkers possess a nu

Question 11

Which of the following is the first step in the AIM planning process for developing influential messages?

Accepted Answer

A)  idea development 
B)  message structuring 
C)  audience analysis 
D)  message review 
E)  idea analysis 
A)  idea development 
B)  message structuring 
C)  audience analysis 
D)  message review 
E)  idea analysis

Question 12

Explain what mixed signals are, and discuss the consequences of sending mixed signals in business messages.

Accepted Answer

Mixed signals occur when the content of

Question 13

For the past couple of months, many employees working at Exterior Inc. have been quitting their jobs. Jason from the human resources department is given the responsibility of analyzing the reasons behind this problem. After conducting a thorough research, Jason finds that the employees were not happy with their salary and hence had no motivation to work. How will Jason structure his message if he wants to use the deductive, or direct, approach?

Accepted Answer

A)  start with a call to action; lay out the supporting reasons; conclude with the primary message 
B)  state the primary message; lay out supporting reasons; conclude with a call to action 
C)  lay out the supporting reasons in careful order; state the primary message 
D)  state the primary message; give the call to action; lay out the supporting reasons 
E)  start with a call to action; state the primary message; lay out the supporting reasons 
A)  start with a call to action; lay out the supporting reasons; conclude with the primary message 
B)  state the primary message; lay out supporting reasons; conclude with a call to action 
C)  lay out the supporting reasons in careful order; state the primary message 
D)  state the primary message; give the call to action; lay out the supporting reasons 
E)  start with a call to action; state the primary message; lay out the supporting reasons

Question 14

Analyzing a business problem typically involves

Accepted Answer

A)  ignoring audience constraints. 
B)  deducing conclusions from facts. 
C)  imposing your priorities on the situation. 
D)  exaggerating the problem. 
E)  being flexible and not taking positions. 
A)  ignoring audience constraints. 
B)  deducing conclusions from facts. 
C)  imposing your priorities on the situation. 
D)  exaggerating the problem. 
E)  being flexible and not taking positions.

Question 15

Which of the following is most likely to lower a person's credibility?

Accepted Answer

A)  slanting facts 
B)  using strong analogies 
C)  asking for more responsibility 
D)  refusing to exaggerate 
E)  using other-oriented approach 
A)  slanting facts 
B)  using strong analogies 
C)  asking for more responsibility 
D)  refusing to exaggerate 
E)  using other-oriented approach

Question 16

Roberto, a manager at GBN, has to prepare a report about the advantages of introducing a counseling program for employees in his company. In his report, he makes the claim that introducing a counseling program would reduce voluntary turnover because employees would be happier with their pay packages, but he offers no evidence linking counseling with pay. This report failed to effectively deliver the message that Roberto had intended. Which of the following is most likely to be the reason behind this failure?

Accepted Answer

A)  slanting of facts 
B)  exaggeration 
C)  unsupported generalization 
D)  weak analogy 
E)  either/or logic 
A)  slanting of facts 
B)  exaggeration 
C)  unsupported generalization 
D)  weak analogy 
E)  either/or logic

Question 17

Which of the following is typically included in the planning stage of writing an effective business message?

Accepted Answer

A)  setting a positive and other-oriented tone 
B)  making the message easy to read 
C)  making the message easy to navigate 
D)  ensuring that the communication is fair 
E)  identifying the primary message and key points 
A)  setting a positive and other-oriented tone 
B)  making the message easy to read 
C)  making the message easy to navigate 
D)  ensuring that the communication is fair 
E)  identifying the primary message and key points

Question 18

Most business arguments employ a deductive approach. When employing this approach you are most likely to

Accepted Answer

A)  avoid stating your position regarding any business issue. 
B)  provide supporting reasons first followed by the primary message. 
C)  begin by stating the primary message, which is typically a recommendation. 
D)  begin by making a call to action for your audience to follow. 
E)  begin by stating the supporting reasons followed by your call to action. 
A)  avoid stating your position regarding any business issue. 
B)  provide supporting reasons first followed by the primary message. 
C)  begin by stating the primary message, which is typically a recommendation. 
D)  begin by making a call to action for your audience to follow. 
E)  begin by stating the supporting reasons followed by your call to action.

Question 19

Suggest three ways that would help entry-level professionals to strengthen their credibility.

Accepted Answer

To break out of a reputation as an inexp

Question 20

In order to make business messages more positive, business writers should focus on actions they can accomplish and demonstrate a realistic optimism. However they should be careful

Accepted Answer

A)  not to set unrealistic expectations. 
B)  to avoid diplomatic terms. 
C)  not to use too-strong analogies. 
D)  to avoid generalizations. 
E)  not to send meta messages. 
A)  not to set unrealistic expectations. 
B)  to avoid diplomatic terms. 
C)  not to use too-strong analogies. 
D)  to avoid generalizations. 
E)  not to send meta messages.

Positions are stances that you take or recommendations that you make based on a set of conclusions.

Facts are statements that

Which of the following is typically included in the reviewing stage of writing an effective business message?

In content and form, a business message should show that you have the interests of your audience in mind.

In the course of creating an effective business message, excellent business thinkers are most likely to

In the context of dealing with business problems, which of the following should ideally be the first step?

Which of the following is one of the three-components of the AIM planning process for developing influential messages?

The difference between the deductive approach and the inductive approach is that

What are the common characteristics of excellent business thinkers?

Which of the following is the first step in the AIM planning process for developing influential messages?

Explain what mixed signals are, and discuss the consequences of sending mixed signals in business messages.

Analyzing a business problem typically involves

Which of the following is most likely to lower a person's credibility?

Which of the following is typically included in the planning stage of writing an effective business message?

Most business arguments employ a deductive approach. When employing this approach you are most likely to

Suggest three ways that would help entry-level professionals to strengthen their credibility.

In order to make business messages more positive, business writers should focus on actions they can accomplish and demonstrate a realistic optimism. However they should be careful

Establishing Credibility

Interpersonal Communication and Emotional Intelligence

Team Communication and Difficult Conversations

Communicating Across Cultures

Improving Readability With Style and Design

E-Mail and Other Traditional Tools for Business Communication

Social Media for Business Communication

Routine Business Messages

Persuasive Messages

Bad-News Messages

Research and Business Proposals and Planning for Business Proposals

Completing Business Proposals and Business Reports

Planning Presentations

Delivering Presentations

Employment Communication

Filters

Exam 5: Creating Effective Business Messages

Positions are stances that you take or recommendations that you make based on a set of conclusions.

Facts are statements that

Which of the following is typically included in the reviewing stage of writing an effective business message?

In content and form, a business message should show that you have the interests of your audience in mind.

In the course of creating an effective business message, excellent business thinkers are most likely to

In the context of dealing with business problems, which of the following should ideally be the first step?

Which of the following is one of the three-components of the AIM planning process for developing influential messages?

The difference between the deductive approach and the inductive approach is that

What are the common characteristics of excellent business thinkers?

Which of the following is the first step in the AIM planning process for developing influential messages?

Explain what mixed signals are, and discuss the consequences of sending mixed signals in business messages.

Analyzing a business problem typically involves

Which of the following is most likely to lower a person's credibility?

Which of the following is typically included in the planning stage of writing an effective business message?

Most business arguments employ a deductive approach. When employing this approach you are most likely to

Suggest three ways that would help entry-level professionals to strengthen their credibility.

In order to make business messages more positive, business writers should focus on actions they can accomplish and demonstrate a realistic optimism. However they should be careful

Establishing Credibility

Interpersonal Communication and Emotional Intelligence

Team Communication and Difficult Conversations

Communicating Across Cultures

Improving Readability With Style and Design

E-Mail and Other Traditional Tools for Business Communication

Social Media for Business Communication

Routine Business Messages

Persuasive Messages

Bad-News Messages

Research and Business Proposals and Planning for Business Proposals

Completing Business Proposals and Business Reports

Planning Presentations

Delivering Presentations

Employment Communication

Filters