Deck 5: Communication Channels and Structures

Question 1

Organizational charts are accurate representations of how communication actually flows in organizations.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Upward communication can be stifled when subordinates fear retribution from management.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Upward communication distortion is always the result of conscious efforts to deceive management.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Supervisors believe they communicate more information than subordinates perceive they receive.

Question 5

A common strategy for collecting network data involves asking employees, "Who have you communicated with in the last week in this organization?"

Question 6

An organization characterized by strong network "multiplexity" might have employees who work together, volunteer together, and attend the same religious service.

Question 7

Which of these is a possible use of downward communication?

A) discussing work problems with a manager
B) feedback to upper management
C) reasons for doing jobs certain ways
D) progress reports to other team members

Question 8

Which of these is not a possible use of downward communication?

A) reasons for doing jobs certain ways
B) attempts to create a certain culture
C) directions for what jobs to do
D) feedback to upper management

Question 9

Which of the following is a common problem with upward communication?

A) Lower level employees receive more information than they give.
B) Same level managers share information with each other.
C) Managers often give their subordinates too much feedback.
D) Only positive information is usually reported.

Question 10

Which of the following is not a common problem with upward communication?

A) It is frequently ignored.
B) Lower level employees prefer receiving to giving information.
C) Only positive information may be given.
D) Same level managers share information with each other.

Question 11

Which of these is an example of horizontal or lateral (peer) communication?

A) A shift manager provides the next shift manager with production details after the shift.
B) A supervisor and subordinate provide each other with feedback about their work.
C) A group of subordinates confront their manager about a problem they all face.
D) Subordinates from two departments share an idea with upper management.

Question 12

Which of these is not an example of horizontal or lateral (peer) communication?

A) Subordinates from two departments share an idea for improving coordination between the departments.
B) A supervisor and subordinate provide each other with feedback about their work.
C) A shift manager provides the next shift manager with production details.
D) Two assistant department heads work on new ways to market products.

Question 13

Which of these is an example of integrative communication?

A) Two assistant department heads work on their own to develop new ways to market products and increase sales for the company.
B) One shift manager provides the next shift manager with production details and problems as they transition between shifts.
C) Managers and subordinates from two departments serving on a temporary committee look into ways to improve coordination between the departments.
D) A supervisor and subordinate have an annual meeting in which they provide each other with feedback about their work.

Question 14

Which of these is not be an example of integrative communication?

A) Two assistant department heads work on their own to develop new ways to market products and increase sales for the company.
B) An ad hoc committee from multiple departments and management try to determine the smoking policy within the building.
C) A group of employees across divisions and levels try to improve the quality of the product they all work on.
D) A task force is formed from across the organization to monitor the progress of the organization at meeting the goals of its annual plan.

Question 15

Which of the following is not true of grapevine or informal communication?

A) It rarely follows the chain of command.
B) It is used by employees throughout the organizational hierarchy.
C) It tends to be more inaccurate than accurate.
D) It is usually faster than official communication.

Question 16

Which of the following is true of grapevine or informal communication?

A) It generally follows the chain of command.
B) It generally serves the organization's task functions.
C) It tends to be more accurate than inaccurate.
D) It is primarily used by lower level employees.

Question 17

This is a tough application question. Use logic to figure out the correct answer. When people played the phone tag game of passing information through a series of people, the final message is usually quite different than the initial messages. This problem occurs in organizational channels as well. This problem of distortion through serial reproduction in communication

A) occurs only in downward communication.
B) can be an effective way to communicate uncertainty.
C) occurs only when messages contain ambiguity.
D) can be the result of deliberate distortions.

Question 18

This is a tough application question. Use logic to figure out the correct answer. When people played the phone tag game of passing information through a series of people, the final message is usually quite different than the initial messages. This problem occurs in organizational channels as well. This problem of distortion through serial reproduction in communication

A) occurs only in upward communication.
B) can be an effective way to manage uncertainty.
C) occurs because people use strategic ambiguity.
D) can be the result of accidental miscommunication.

Question 19

A network approach to studying communication channels is different from a traditional communication channel approach because

A) it examines who actually communicates rather than who is supposed to communicate.
B) it examines communication throughout the organization.
C) it includes people from various departments and hierarchical levels.
D) it includes people external to the organization rather than just internal members.

Question 20

Which of the following is not true of a network approach to studying communication channels?

A) It examines who actually communicates rather than who is supposed to communicate.
B) It examines communication throughout the organization.
C) It includes people from various departments and hierarchical levels.
D) It includes people external to the organization rather than just internal members.

Question 21

As researcher could use unobtrusive methods of gathering network data including phone records, email records, or interoffice envelopes. What is a potential weakness of all of these methods?

A) Each method provides an accurate record of communication.
B) Each method can be collected without causing a Hawthorne effect.
C) Each method may fail to capture some of the most important communication.
D) Each method may fail to capture the frequency of communication.

Question 22

Which of the following is not a problem with recall methods of collecting network data?

A) People may forget to mention some of the people they contact.
B) People will recall their most frequent or important contacts.
C) People can be given prompts like lists of organizational members.
D) People can be asked to list work and social contacts.

Question 23

A person who has a multiplex linkage

A) is linked to many different people in a network.
B) is linked to many different parts of the organization.
C) communicates multiple times per day with someone in the organization.
D) communicates to someone about multiple topics such as work and social.

Question 24

Which of the following is a characteristic of a network liaison?

A) A liaison is a member of one group who communicates with another group.
B) A liaison is a member of one group who communicates with all the group members.
C) A liaison is not a member of a group but links two groups together.
D) A liaison is not a member of a group but facilitates communication within a group.

Question 25

A manager should be concerned about people who are identified as isolates or isolate pairs in an organizational network for what reason?

A) The manager may have trouble getting information to the isolates.
B) Isolates tend to be people who leave the organization and must be replaced.
C) The manager may not know the person very well as an employee.
D) Isolates are often poor workers who must be motivated to perform better.

Question 26

A coalition is a network group with which of the following characteristics?

A) They join together temporarily to accomplish something and then disband.
B) They have a long history of communicating together.
C) They probably communicate socially as friends outside of work.
D) They join together as long-time employees who know each other well.

Question 27

According to the bank teller study, the outside tellers were leaving the organization much more frequently because

A) they had a different supervisor over them.
B) they had different policies concerning pay and benefits.
C) they were isolated from the communication network.
D) they were less qualified when they were hired.

Question 28

Which of the following is not an advantage for an organization connected through an organizational network to other important organizations (networks between organizations rather than within one)?

A) The connection increases the appearance of legitimacy for the organization.
B) The connection means the organization is large.
C) The connection gives possible connections to additional resources.
D) The connection allows the organization to monitor its environment better.

Question 29

Differentiate downward communication from integrative communication. Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of each.

Question 30

Explain at least two reasons that upward communication can get "distorted" and how this may affect organizations functions.

Question 31

Explain two important insights that can be learned from a communication network analysis of an organization.

Question 32

Identify problems with collecting communication network data.

Question 33

Distinguish between the following pairs of terms:
• clique and coalition
• uniplex and multiplex linkages
• liaison and bridge link

Question 34

Draw a generic network diagram. Then, differentiate linkages, nodes, and groups on your diagram using labels.

Question 35

Explain how network centrality is related to employee turnover.