Deck 12: Communication in Organizations

Question 1

The connections that link members of organization together through formal and informal forms of interaction are __________.

A)communication networks
B) communication structures
C) chains of command
D) communication contexts
E) communication practices

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT true about employee mistreatment?

A)23% of mistreated employees are white males
B) 38% of those who engage in bullying are women
C) 35% of those in the workplace have experienced workplace bullying
D) people who are unfairly treated tend to have decreased morale
E) in New York state, workers let workers sue due to abusive treatment on the job

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Not long after Tim had been on the job, a co-worker told him, "Joanne gets crazy if you're not here on time. I was late from lunch one time and she let me have it!" The co-worker's comment is an example of a(n) __________.

A) enhancement rite
B) corporate story
C) personal story
D)collegial story
E) interaction ritual

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Bob was telling everyone in the break room that he thought it was a big mistake to hire Laurie because it was clear to him that she was not qualified for her position. Even though Laurie had the credentials and previous experience for the job, Bob was angry that his girlfriend had not been hired instead. He called Laurie "inept" and "under qualified" despite her fine performance on the job so far. This is an example of __________.

A) a personal ritual
B) a social ritual
C)workplace bullying
D) constitutive roles
E) organizational networking

Question 5

Shawanda's new supervisor tells her, "I have an open door policy. If you need to talk about anything, even personal stuff, I'm hear to listen." This comment is an example of a(n) __________.

A) collegial story
B) corporate story
C) enhancement rite
D) interaction ritual
E)personal story

Question 6

"In my sorority we recognize the sisters that make the dean's list each semester by putting a mini-box of Godiva's chocolates next to their dinner plates," Amy says. "That way, everyone realizes who has done well academically." This is an example of __________.

A)a rite
B) a task ritual
C) a policy
D) an organizational obligation
E) a rule

Question 7

The way of thinking, acting, and viewing work shared by members of an organization that reflects the organization's identity is known as __________.

A) communication networks
B) structure
C) rituals
D)organizational culture
E) rites

Question 8

Which of the following is true about organizations?

A) All organizations are linked to and are influenced by the context in which they are embedded.
B) An organization cannot be understood simply by looking at its internal structure.
C) Communication occurs within networks that connect members to one another.
D) Most modern organizations rely on a hierarchal structure.
E)all of the above

Question 9

The semi-annual meeting of the board of directors of No-Doz Corporation is always held in the company's executive conference room. This special practice is an example of __________.

A) a personal ritual
B) organizational rules
C) corporate culture
D) a structural ritual
E)a task ritual

Question 10

Stories that convey the values, legends, and history of an organization are called __________.

A)corporate stories
B) collegial stories
C) personal stories
D) ritualistic stories
E) stereotypical stories

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a communication practice that reflects and upholds organizational culture?

A) rites
B) rituals
C) vocabulary
D)schema
E) all of the above reflect and uphold organizational culture

Question 12

Mark's wife asked him how his first day at work went. He smiled and said everyone he met told him about how Jed McClusky single-handedly saved the company from the brink of disaster. Mark had learned what the people he worked with really valued through their use of __________.

A)corporate stories
B) task rituals
C) communication contexts
D) chains of command
E) personal relationships on the job
TRUE/FALSE

Question 13

E-mail chatting and forwarding of jokes are examples of __________.

A)social rituals
B) task rituals
C) organizational rituals
D) corporate story
E) corporate rites

Question 14

Examples of masculine language that are common in many workplaces include __________.

A) "level playing field"
B) "battle plan"
C) "give birth to a plan"
D)a and b
E) all of the above

Question 15

Masculine language __________.

A) consists of rumors
B) is a product of years and years of organizations being run by men
C) reflects traditional masculine experiences
D) may normalize sexist practices
E)all but a

Question 16

According to scholars of organizational culture, humans are by nature __________.

A)storytellers
B) subservient
C) domineering
D) hierarchical
E) none of the above

Question 17

Hierarchical language is best illustrated by which of the following?

A) use of first names on the job
B)workers who use titles to address each other
C) telling corporate stories
D) engaging in team-building rituals
E) focusing on climate communication

Question 18

Among the challenges for effectively participating in organizational life are __________.

A) adapting to diverse needs, situations, and people
B) moving in and out of teams
C) managing personal relationships on the job
D) a and c
E)a, b and c

Question 19

Javier's job description listed duties that include being responsible for assessing needs and providing training for the staff in his division. This represents which structure that expresses and upholds organizational culture?

A)roles
B) rules
C) policies
D) networks
E) all of the above

Question 20

Firings, demotions, and reprimands are all forms of __________.

A) rites of passage
B) rites of integration
C) enhancement rites
D)blaming rites
E) conflict resolution rites

Question 21

An organization is best understood by simply looking at the organization's operation.

Question 22

Research on organizations tells us that the grapevine is not a reliable source of information.

Question 23

Social rituals are routine behaviors that individuals use to express their organizational identities.

Question 24

Organizational cultures include rites that blame people.

Question 25

Workers can belong to physical networks and virtual networks.

Question 26

An example of a regulative rule in an organization would be when participating on the company's softball team is interpreted as showing pride in the company.

Question 27

Complaining about what has happened on the job during the previous week is a social ritual.

Question 28

An organizational chart is an example of corporate policies.

Question 29

__________ __________ __________ are standard methods of dealing with differences and discord.

Question 30

Friendships between co-workers, and even between supervisors and subordinates, often enhance job commitment and job satisfaction.

Question 31

__________ are responsibilities and behaviors associated with a specific position in an organization.

Question 32

__________ are formal statements of practices that reflect and uphold the overall culture of an organization.

Question 33

__________ __________ is used to designate status within an organization communicate rank.

Question 34

Rites are communication practices that occur regularly in organizations and are routine parts of organizational life.

Question 35

__________ __________ link members of an organization through formal and informal kinds of interaction.

Question 36

__________ __________ are repeated activities that help members of an organization perform their jobs.

Question 37

In organizations, __________ provides predictability for members so that they understand roles, procedures, and expectations.

Question 38

The formal and informal linkages that connect organizational members when they communicate are called communication __________.

Question 39

Ways of thinking, acting, and understanding work that are shared by members of an organization and that reflect an organization's identity is known as __________ __________.

Question 40

Recurring hostile behaviors used by people with greater power over people with lesser power is known as __________ __________.

Question 41

Compare the U.S. workplace of today and that in the time of the Industrial Revolution. Discuss differences in organizational attitudes and in the character of workers.

Question 42

Explain and differentiate between the concepts of rites and rituals.

Question 43

Discuss three important challenges for communicating in organizations today, as discussed in Chapter 12. Which challenge do you think poses the biggest difficulty for most people? Justify your answer.