Deck 15: Organisational Communication and Conflict

Question 1

The nervous system of any organised group is a reference to:

A) creative energy.
B) the brains of the organisation.
C) communication.
D) nervousness among staff.

Answer 1

communication.

Question 2

Which one of the following options is not a function of effective communication in organisations?

A) Developing and maintaining organisational cultures.
B) Reducing the time managers spend fixing problems.
C) Building bonds with each other.
D) Enhancing high-quality decisions.

Answer 2

Reducing the time managers spend fixing problems.

Question 3

In the model of interpersonal communication, the receiver:

A) encodes.
B) decodes.
C) does not respond to the received message.
D) is not involved in noise.

Answer 3

decodes.

Question 4

Verbal and non-verbal are:

A) types of noise.
B) dispositions of the sender.
C) dispositions of the receiver.
D) two main types of communication channels.

Question 5

To increase the likelihood of the message being remembered:

A) talk in varying tones.
B) use examples in the explanation.
C) try to control the receiver's environment.
D) use more than one channel of communication.

Question 6

To convey emotions and be persuasive:

A) face-to-face communication is most effective.
B) written communication is most effective.
C) computer-mediated communication is most effective.
D) non-verbal communication plays no role.

Question 7

Difficulty in conveying emotions accurately is a feature of:

A) non-verbal communication.
B) email.
C) face-to-face communication.
D) all forms of communication.

Question 8

The messages most commonly conveyed through touch are related to:

A) task accomplishment.
B) caring.
C) status and power.
D) self-esteem.

Question 9

For leaders and managers to persuade staff and get their attention they:

A) need to show their power and authority non-verbally.
B) need to use mainly email to express their power and authority.
C) need to use mainly written forms of communication to express their power and authority.
D) need to have their title clearly displayed on their office door and desk.

Question 10

Explicit verbal messages that try to convey the true feelings of the sender are indicative of:

A) non-verbal communication.
B) a direct style of communication.
C) computer-mediated communication.
D) an indirect style of communication.

Question 11

When the focus is on the role of the speaker, and 'meanings are expressed for the purpose of emphasising role relationships', this is indicative of:

A) a direct style.
B) a non verbal style.
C) a contextual style.
D) a personal style.

Question 12

An affective style of communication is commonly associated with cultures established and developed in:

A) the United States of America.
B) Latin America.
C) Australia.
D) Switzerland.

Question 13

A speaker using goal-oriented, sender-focused language to send his or her message is demonstrating:

A) an affective style.
B) an instrumental style.
C) a cross-cultural style.
D) an indirect style.

Question 14

Which one of the following is not one of the types of downward communication?

A) Feedback to the subordinate concerning job performance.
B) Information to assist in the coordination of work tasks.
C) Feedback submitted to a suggestion box.
D) Instructions or directions concerning job performance.

Question 15

The upward flow of suggestions for improvement:

A) can be increased when workers feel highly engaged in their jobs and have the feeling that their suggestions will actually be considered and possibly implemented.
B) generally flows at a constant rate.
C) is best encouraged by directives from managers that suggestions must be provided.
D) has been shown not to improve organisational performance.

Question 16

Deleting or delaying negative information from a message so that the message is seen more favourably by the receiver is best defined as:

A) perceiving.
B) filtering.
C) noise.
D) feedback.

Question 17

Empathic listening includes:

A) becoming aware of the speaker's experience and feeling.
B) making time to listen to what someone has to say.
C) ignoring the other person's emotions.
D) repeating back to the speaker what you understood them to have said.

Question 18

Which one of the following is not one of the basics of empathic listening?

A) Setting a safe, comfortable climate for communication to encourage expression.
B) Becoming aware of the speaker's experiences and feelings.
C) Establishing a climate where the views of the organisation can be prioritised.
D) Recognising differences and/or probing to discover underlying emotions.

Question 19

Which of the following is not listed as a source of conflict?

A) Cultural differences
B) Resource scarcity
C) Ambiguity or lack of rules
D) Ineffective communication

Question 20

Define communication and briefly discuss some of the functions of effective communication in organisations.

Question 21

Briefly talk about the communication flow between the sender and the receiver.

Question 22

What are the two main types of communication channels? With the help of an example, discuss the difference between face-to-face versus written communication.

Question 23

When is non-verbal communication used and what are some of its elements?

Question 24

With examples discuss any two differences in verbal communication when dealing with partners across borders.

Question 25

What is downward communication and what type of messages are conveyed using this type?

Question 26

Define conflict and what the various levels are at which conflict may take place?

Question 27

From your perspective what are some of the conflict management styles that may be used by individuals.

Question 28

Summarise some of the ways of managing organisational conflict.

Question 29

Discuss how divergent corporate and/or social cultures contribute to conflict.