Deck 16: Promoting Effective Communication

Question 1

There is no one best communication medium for managers to rely on.

Answer 1

True
Explanation:There is no one best communication medium for managers to rely on.

Question 2

The amount of information that a communication medium can carry and the extent to which the medium enables the sender and receiver to reach a common understanding is known as information richness.

Answer 2

True
Explanation:Information richness is the amount of information a communication medium can carry and the extent to which the medium enables the sender and receiver to reach a common understanding.

Question 3

Decoding is a general term that refers to anything that hampers any stage of the communication process.

Answer 3

False
Explanation:Noise is a general term that refers to anything that hampers any stage of the communication process.

Question 4

One advantage of face-to-face communication and electronically transmitted verbal communication is that they both demand attention.

Question 5

The person wishing to share information with some other person in the transmission phase of the communication process is known as the sender.

Question 6

Impersonal written communication is highest in information richness.

Question 7

Gary wishes to share vital information with his offshore team members in London. Gary, in this instance, is the sender.

Question 8

Perceptual biases help make communication more effective.

Question 9

Communication is the sharing of information between two or more individuals or groups to reach a common understanding.

Question 10

The feedback phase of a communication process is initiated by a receiver who then becomes the sender.

Question 11

Management by wandering around involves scheduling formal meetings with subordinates and discussing issues and concerns that both subordinates and managers may have.

Question 12

Communication can still take place even in the absence of a common understanding.

Question 13

The process of translating a message into symbols is called decoding.

Question 14

While effective communication is necessary to increase responsiveness to customers, it plays a negligible role in innovation.

Question 15

People have greater control over nonverbal communication than verbal communication.

Question 16

It is in the transmission phase of the communication process that a common understanding is ensured.

Question 17

Media low in information richness can carry an extensive amount of information and generally enable receivers and senders to come to a common understanding.

Question 18

The process of interpreting a coded message back to its original form is called encoding.

Question 19

Nonverbal communication is used as an alternative to verbal communication.

Question 20

Face-to-face communication has the lowest information richness.

Question 21

In a circle network, every team member communicates with every other team member.

Question 22

The pathways along which information flows in groups and teams and throughout an organization are called communication networks.

Question 23

A disadvantage of intranets is that they can only be used by people who have expertise in computer software.

Question 24

Wheel networks are usually found in teams, as they allow the intense interactions characteristic of teamwork.

Question 25

In a wheel network, every team member communicates with every other team member.

Question 26

Vertical communication occurs when Scott, divisional manager of production, discusses business issues with Susan, divisional manager of marketing.

Question 27

In an all-channel network, every team member communicates with every other team member.

Question 28

Linguistic style refers to a person's characteristic way of speaking.

Question 29

Communication among employees at the same level in the hierarchy, or sideways, is called horizontal communication.

Question 30

Wheel networks are found in groups with sequential task interdependence.

Question 31

Like wheel networks, chain networks also exist in teams.

Question 32

Managers should make people change their linguistic styles to match the organization's culture.

Question 33

The grapevine is a formal communication network along which official, accurate information flows.

Question 34

An organization chart summarizes the informal pathways along which communication takes place.

Question 35

In a circle network, members communicate with one another in a predetermined sequence.

Question 36

Filtering occurs when senders withhold part of a message because they think the receiver does not need the information or will not want to receive it.

Question 37

In a chain network, members communicate with one another in a predetermined sequence.

Question 38

A disadvantage of intranets is their lack of versatility as a communication medium.

Question 39

Groupware is a company-wide system of computer networks.

Question 40

Intranet refers to a global system of computer networks.

Question 41

In the communication process, the feedback phase is initiated by the _____.

A) decoder
B) original sender
C) messenger
D) receiver
E) encoder

Question 42

_____ is the encoding of messages into written words.

A) Verbal communication
B) Nonverbal communication
C) Perceptual communication
D) Facial communication
E) Postural communication

Question 43

In the _____ phase, a common understanding is ensured.

A) transmission
B) schema
C) initiation
D) simulation
E) feedback

Question 44

Joey's nodding in agreement is a form of _____.

A) verbal communication
B) nonverbal communication
C) vociferation
D) documented communication
E) catalogued communication

Question 45

_____ is the process through which people select, organize, and interpret sensory input to give meaning and order to the world around them.

A) Communication
B) Perception
C) Collaboration
D) Transmission
E) Feedback

Question 46

In the communication process, decoding is the process of:

A) removing anything that hampers any stage of the communication process.
B) deciding what message to send to the original sender.
C) translating a coded message back to its original form.
D) coding a message into symbols or language.
E) selecting an appropriate communication medium over which information can be effectively communicated.

Question 47

Gary wishes to share some information with his offshore team members in London. In the communication process, Gary is the _____.

A) encoder
B) messenger
C) decoder
D) receiver
E) sender

Question 48

Which of the following is true of nonverbal communication?

A) It includes encoding messages into written words.
B) Messages that cannot be sent through verbal channels can't be communicated nonverbally either.
C) It can be controlled more easily than verbal communication.
D) It reinforces verbal communication.
E) It cannot be used in congruence with verbal communication.

Question 49

Which of the following is true of feedback and the feedback phase of the communication process?

A) The feedback phase is initiated by the original sender.
B) In the feedback phase, the original sender decides what message to send to the receiver.
C) In the feedback phase, the original receiver becomes the sender.
D) Feedback gives rise to misunderstandings.
E) Feedback keeps the senders and receivers from reaching a common understanding.

Question 50

Managers can _____ by updating the production process to take advantage of new and more efficient technologies.

A) increase responsiveness to customers
B) increase efficiency
C) establish an electronic trail
D) cause information overload
E) lower information richness

Question 51

The process by which a message translated into symbols is interpreted to obtain the original message back is called _____.

A) encoding
B) decoding
C) encrypting
D) ciphering
E) obscuring

Question 52

In the transmission phase of the communication process, the information that a sender wants to share is known as the _____.

A) code
B) medium
C) message
D) trail
E) noise

Question 53

In the communication process, encoding is the process of:

A) removing anything that hampers any stage of the communication process.
B) translating a message into symbols.
C) translating a coded message back to its original form.
D) selecting an appropriate communication medium for the information that is to be communicated.
E) deciding what message to send to the original sender.

Question 54

Which of the following is an example of nonverbal communication?

A) A manager e-mailing his subordinates about an upcoming office party
B) A manager publicly praising one of his subordinates during a regular team meeting
C) A manager handing out a notice of termination to an underperforming employee
D) A manager frowning with disapproval at the sight of an employee who is dressed inappropriately
E) A manager announcing a reward for successful employee referrals in a notice posted in the office lounge

Question 55

The amount of information a communication medium can carry and the extent to which the medium enables the sender and receiver to reach a common understanding is known as _____.

A) nominal information
B) information richness
C) information inadequacy
D) information overload
E) information distortion

Question 56

The sharing of information by means of facial expressions and body language is known as _____.

A) vociferation
B) verbal communication
C) nonverbal communication
D) biased communication
E) perceptual communication

Question 57

By encouraging its sales representatives to freely talk to their managers about the changing customer needs, RST Global increased its responsiveness to customers. Which of the following is most likely to be the factor that helped RST achieve this?

A) Low information richness
B) Overload of information
C) High perceptual bias
D) Good communication
E) Effective electronic trail

Question 58

Which of the following is true of perceptions?

A) Perceptions are not influenced by people's attitudes and moods.
B) Perceptions of senders and receivers play no role in the encoding and decoding of messages.
C) Perceptions of senders and receivers play a negligent role in choosing the communication medium.
D) Perceptions are inherently objective and are based on accurate information.
E) Perceptions, if accurate, can contribute to effective communication.

Question 59

Verbal communication involves encoding messages by means of _____.

A) spoken language
B) body language
C) dressing styles
D) facial expressions
E) body postures

Question 60

Which of the following is true of communication?

A) It takes place even if a common understanding is not reached.
B) It does not involve individuals and groups; hence is not a human endeavor.
C) It is a necessity for gaining a competitive advantage.
D) It affects the responsiveness to customers negatively.
E) It plays little or no role in improving the quality or efficiency.

Question 61

Information flows to and from one central member of the group in a _____ network.

A) circle
B) all-channel
C) chain
D) wheel
E) cubic

Question 62

Which of the following is true of face-to-face communication?

A) It is low in information richness.
B) It enables managers to receive instant feedback.
C) It increases ambiguity.
D) It allows managers to cycle through the communication process only once to reach a common understanding.
E) It cannot be used to communicate complex information.

Question 63

Douglas put together a company newsletter to talk about general topics about the company to all of the employees. This is an example of _____.

A) personal written communication
B) impersonal written communication
C) formal written communication
D) face-to-face communication
E) electronic verbal communication

Question 64

Which of the following forms of communication is lowest in information richness?

A) E-mail
B) Video conference
C) Management by wandering around
D) Voice mail
E) Impersonal written communication

Question 65

Which of the following is true of spoken communication electronically transmitted over phone lines?
A.
It has the highest information richness as compared to other communication media.
B.
It conveys extensive amounts of information.
C.
It has the potential for misunderstandings.
D.
It allows managers to observe body language and facial expressions.
E.
It has the lowest information richness as compared to other communication media.

Question 66

_____ refer(s) to company-wide systems that allow managers to send and receive verbal electronic messages over telephone lines even when they are hundreds of miles away from the office.

A) Grapevine system
B) Voice-mail system
C) Blog
D) Instant-messaging system
E) Groupware collaborative system

Question 67

Which of the following is a disadvantage of face-to-face communication?

A) It is low in information richness.
B) It is time consuming.
C) It results in unwanted documentation of the information exchanged.
D) It can result in ambiguity and misunderstandings.
E) It allows managers to cycle through the communication process only once.

Question 68

Brian, the president of Midland Manufacturing, strolls through the production plant every morning and has an informal chat with employees about issues and concerns. Which of the following management techniques is used by Brian?

A) Prerogative management
B) Management by objectives
C) Management by accounting
D) Management by job enrichment
E) Management by wandering around

Question 69

Which of the following communication media is the second highest in information richness?

A) Face-to-face communication
B) Personally addressed written communication
C) Spoken communication electronically transmitted
D) Impersonal written communication
E) Communication by means of formal meetings

Question 70

Which of the following is true of impersonal written communication?

A) It is highest in information richness.
B) It is addressed to particular receivers.
C) It does not allow documentation of the messages exchanged.
D) It generally does not result in feedback.
E) It cannot be retrieved electronically.

Question 71

Which of the following is true of a wheel network?

A) In a wheel network, members communicate with one another in a predetermined sequence.
B) In a wheel network, all the members of a group need to communicate with one another to perform at a high level.
C) In a wheel network, a group accomplishes its goals by directing communication to and from a central member.
D) In a wheel network operating in command groups, the efficiency of communication is low.
E) In a wheel network operating in command groups, performance is compromised.

Question 72

The potential for important information to be ignored or overlooked (even that which is personally addressed) while tangential information receives attention is referred to as _____.

A) noise
B) information richness
C) information overload
D) information distortion
E) information circle

Question 73

Which of the following communication networks is often found in command groups with pooled task interdependence?

A) Circle network
B) All-channel network
C) Chain network
D) Wheel network
E) Cubic network

Question 74

In which of the following communication networks do members communicate with one another in a predetermined sequence?

A) Chain network
B) Wheel network
C) All-channel network
D) Circle network
E) Grapevine network

Question 75

The pathway along which information flows throughout an organization is called _____.

A) organizational structure
B) communication network
C) organizational culture
D) organizational design
E) cross-functional link

Question 76

Drake would often come in late to work in spite of repeated, formal warnings by his manager. Drake's manager, Matt, lost his patience and fired him. In the event that Drake sues Matt for unjustly firing him, which of the following, if true, would help Matt win the case?

A) Matt always promotes the use of collaboration software.
B) Matt always refuses to participate in the grapevine.
C) Matt is not particularly fond of the management by wandering around technique.
D) Matt always maintains a paper or electronic trail for all his messages.
E) Matt has a tendency toward stereotyping employees.

Question 77

Telecommuters are:

A) people who are employed by an organization but are permanently placed in a client location.
B) people who are employed by an organization but work out of offices in their own homes.
C) people who are employed by one organization but work for another client organization.
D) people who are always on the move, traveling back and forth to the office, attending one client meeting after another.
E) people who are self-employed.

Question 78

Which of the following is true of a chain network?

A) It enables flow of information to and from one central member of the group.
B) It usually does not to exist in teams.
C) It is found in groups with pooled task interdependence.
D) It does not require group members to communicate with each other.
E) It allows group members to only communicate with people who are similar to them in experiences.

Question 79

A face-to-face communication technique in which a manager goes to a work area and talks informally with employees about issues and concerns is _____.

A) management by exception
B) management by objectives
C) micromanagement
D) macromanagement
E) management by wandering around

Question 80

Which of the following communication media has the highest information richness?

A) Personally addressed written communication
B) Spoken communication electronically transmitted
C) Face-to-face communication
D) Impersonal written communication
E) Communication by means of e-mail