Deck 14: Communication During Career and Organizational Transitions

Question 1

According to sensemaking theory, the process of assigning meaning is a process of

A) assigning meaning after an experience.
B) passively accepting the meaning of an experience.
C) actively reducing uncertainty from an experience.
D) individually assigning meaning to an experience.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Sensemaking is driven by plausibility rather than accuracy. This concept means that sensemaking

A) creates meaning that accurately reflects what actually happened.
B) creates meaning after the event has occurred, retrospectively.
C) can create meaning that does not accurately reflect what actually happened.
D) creates meaning by people collectively determining how to understand something.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In some instances it is important that sensebreaking communication precedes new sensemaking. Sensebreaking involves

A) showing that a person has extra knowledge on a topic.
B) creating a new understanding of a situation.
C) showing that current understanding of something is problematic.
D) creating a new relationship between the speaker and the situation.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Sensebreaking can be an important part of the sensemaking process. Sensebreaking specifically involves

A) showing that a person has extra knowledge on a topic.
B) influencing others to accept a particular understanding of future plans.
C) showing that current understanding of something is problematic.
D) creating a relationship between the speaker and the message recipient.

Question 5

Which of the following is not generally considered an important characteristic of a person who should be promoted?

A) The person has the technical skills to be able to perform the new position.
B) The person has the people skills to be able to relate to people in the new position.
C) The person has the big-picture skills to understand the whole organization.
D) The person has relationships with the decision-makers in the organization.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a potential problem for someone being promoted?

A) learning how to interact with former peers who are now subordinates
B) learning how to manage new information that the person now has access to, but did no previously
C) learning how to improve performance on previous tasks or duties
D) learning new tasks or duties

Question 7

Which of the following is not a common concern for someone who has been promoted?

A) learning how to manage the new information that they have access to but did not previously know.
B) former supervisors, who are now peers, treating them as equals.
C) learning how to complete two jobs at once.
D) former peers, who are now subordinates, giving them the proper respect in their new position.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of hazing a newly promoted employee rather than simply testing the person?

A) A supervisor quizzes the person about the steps needed to complete a job.
B) A peer publically criticizes the person to finish the job more quickly as it is being done.
C) A supervisor double checks to see whether the person did the job correctly.
D) A peer asks whether the person knows how to check records on the computer.

Question 9

Which of the following communication changes is not common during the loosening phase of a domestic job transfer?

A) Transferees communicate to coworkers and supervisors to finish up current projects.
B) Coworkers communicate dissatisfaction about the transferee's decision to transfer.
C) Coworkers communicate less because they see the transferee as a short timer.
D) Coworkers communicate appreciation to the transferee by having a farewell party.

Question 10

Which of the following is not an issue with a domestic job transfer?

A) learning the culture of the new country
B) adjusting to the new city or community
C) learning new duties and responsibilities
D) developing relationships with new coworkers

Question 11

Which of the following is an important issue for a transferee in a domestic job transfer?

A) learning the culture of the overall organization
B) learning the subculture of the local facility
C) maintaining relationships with the previous work site
D) maintaining work responsibilities at the previous work site

Question 12

Which of the following is an issue for an international job transfer but not a domestic transfer?

A) learning the culture of the new country
B) adjusting to the new city or community
C) learning new duties and responsibilities
D) developing relationships with new coworkers

Question 13

Which of the following does not occur during the loosening phase of a domestic or international transfer?

A) The company or the individual initiates the idea of a transfer.
B) The individual tries to finish projects and pass on information to others.
C) The individual may be seen as a less committed, short-time employee by others.
D) The individual prepares to move to a new company.

Question 14

Which of the following occurs during the loosening phase of an international transfer but not during a domestic transfer?

A) The company or the individual initiates the idea of a transfer.
B) The individual tries to finish projects and pass on information to others.
C) The individual may be seen as a less committed, short-time employee by others.
D) The individual and family receive cultural and/or language training.

Question 15

Which of the following fits the definition of a career plateau?

A) Someone wants to continue to move up in the organization but has been in the same position for several years.
B) Someone wants to make a lateral transfer to another department to learn new skills.
C) Someone takes an international transfer to gain more organizational experience even though the position is about the same.
D) Someone takes the same position at another company because it pays more.

Question 16

It may help individuals who have reached career plateaus to be able to maintain a positive work outlook if management provides them with

A) information about when higher ups will retire.
B) mentoring opportunities or special projects to do.
C) years of service recognition awards.
D) a new title without additional responsibilities.

Question 17

A regional bank operating in three states purchases a smaller local in the next state. This is an example of what type of strategy?

A) vertical integration
B) perpendicular integration
C) horizontal integration
D) conglomerate integration

Question 18

Which of the following is not a common communication problem during a merger?

A) The cultures of the two organizations have to be combined.
B) The communication technologies have to be integrated.
C) Employees need to learn the unique language of the other organization.
D) Employees have to become familiar with the culture of their communities.

Question 19

During the in-play portion of the merger when the integration of the two companies into one is occurring, it is good to

A) provide frequent communication updates to keep employees informed.
B) keep information secret to the degree possible to avoid rumors.
C) limit communication to formal announcements like press releases.
D) communicate information only on matters that have been finalized.

Question 20

An organization may be able to avoid communicating that it is reducing its workforce by

A) by having laid-off employees sign a non-disclosure agreement.
B) by laying off employees in a location distant from its headquarters.
C) if it can reduce the number of employees due to natural attrition.
D) if it can provide placement services for employees who must leave.

Question 21

Employees who survive a layoff (still have a job)

A) need no special communication efforts because they are so pleased to still have their jobs.
B) need to be encouraged to communication a positive image for the company to help it recover.
C) have more positive attitudes if their supervisors communicate to them and support them.
D) have more positive attitudes if they did not communicate regularly with the laid-off employees.

Question 22

During and after a layoff, research suggests the best communication strategy is to

A) keep things as secretive a possible to avoid fueling rumors.
B) give out even partial information if that is all that is available.
C) wait until information is complete and accurate before releasing any of it.
D) warn employees about spreading rumors to help eliminate them.