BA105W Ch1 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Which of the following statements about today's work environments is least accurate?
answer
You won't find open workspaces or flexible workstations in traditional offices.
question
What is the least accurate statement about social presence?
answer
Social presence is greater in asynchronous communication than in synchronous communication.
question
Steven included on his résumé the job title "Vice President of Reprographics." A reference check uncovered that he was actually a copy machine operator at Kinko's. Into what ethical trap did he fall?
answer
Self-deception trap
question
Which of the following statements about communication in today's business organizations is most accurate?
answer
Wireless access is increasingly blanketing entire office buildings, airports, hotels, restaurants, school and college campuses, cities, and other public spaces.
question
When faced with an ethical dilemma, what is the first question you should ask?
answer
Is the action I am considering legal?
question
Mickey Monus knew that his company Phar-Mor was destined for greatness; he, therefore, felt it was okay to manipulate the accounting records to show a profit instead of a loss to get the company through the rough times. Into what ethical trap did he fall?
answer
Ends-justify-the-means trap
question
To improve information flow, many of today's companies have decreased the number of operating units and managers, thereby shortening lines of communication.
answer
True
question
Which of the following statements about formal and informal communication channels is most accurate?
answer
Companies should monitor social media sites to see what customers and others are saying about the company
question
Diverse workforces are more likely to create the products that consumers demand.
answer
True
question
The most successful job candidate in today's competitive job market
answer
is able to communicate effectively about work that is increasingly complex and intellectually demanding.
question
Which of the following is an advantage of written communication?
answer
Creates a permanent record
question
Bert is CEO of an organization with many layers in the chain of command. He is looking for ways to reduce these layers so that he can communicate more directly with the first-line employees. What organizational communication barrier is he trying to overcome?
answer
Long lines of communication
question
Covering up incidents, abusing sick days, lying to a supervisor, taking credit for a colleague's ideas, and inflating grades on a résumé are examples of
answer
unethical actions.
question
Being ethical makes good business sense.
answer
True
question
One advantage of oral communication over written communication is that oral communication can be more easily adjusted to the audience.
answer
True
question
Information flows through formal communication channels in three directions: downward, upward, and spiral.
answer
False
question
Which of the following statements about communicating in today's digital world is least accurate?
answer
Communication generally flows one way, from businesses to consumers.
question
Communication in today's workplace is shifting from one-sided, slow forms of communication to interactive, instant, less paper-based communication.
answer
True
question
Social presence is greater in asynchronous communication (e-mail, forum post) than in synchronous communication (live chat, IM).
answer
False
question
Kendra is responsible for updating her company's Facebook page with information about products, promotions, and special events. Kendra is using a communication medium called
answer
social media.
question
Which of the following statements is least accurate?
answer
Employees should expect employers to provide them with a clearly defined career path.
question
The three primary business communication functions are to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.
answer
False
question
External communication includes sharing ideas and messages with superiors, coworkers, and subordinates.
answer
False
question
According to media richness theory, face-to-face conversations are the richest because they provide more helpful cues and allow for immediate feedback.
answer
True
question
Maxwell is sending an e-mail message to the Securities and Exchange Commission to ask about a specific Sarbanes-Oxley regulation. This is an example of internal communication.
answer
False
question
A free exchange of information helps organizations
answer
do all of these (respond rapidly to changing markets, build employee morale, serve the public).
question
What is the most accurate statement about being an effective communicator in the digital age?
answer
Realize that because of social media and other online technology, your writing will be on display more than ever before; and it must be professional and correct.
question
One disadvantage of written communication is that it the paper trail it leaves can be dangerous.
answer
True
question
Robert has altered figures on his firm's financial statements to make revenues for the quarter look higher. He thinks that doing this will cause an increase in his firm's stock price, which will make stockholders happy. He has fallen into the ends-justify-the-means ethical trap.
answer
True
question
Which of the following statements about workplace diversity is the most accurate?
answer
Teams with diverse membership are more likely to create the products that consumers demand.
question
You are born with the abilities to read, listen, speak, and write effectively.
answer
False
question
Which of the following is not an advantage of oral communication?
answer
Promotes easy recall
question
E-mail is rapidly becoming the preferred communication channel for online customer service.
answer
False
question
Which of the following statements about social media is most accurate?
answer
Social media are still relatively new and untried communication channels for some businesses.
question
Which of the following is an example of horizontal communication in an organization?
answer
Six marketing reps meet to discuss ideas for targeting new customers.
question
Naoko has just moved to the United States and is taking a class to improve her English skills. What organizational communication barrier is she trying to overcome?
answer
Lack of communication skills
question
Ethical business communicators strive to tell the truth, label opinions so that they are not confused with facts, are objective, communicate clearly, use inclusive language, and
answer
give credit when using the ideas of others.
question
What is the most common business communication function?
answer
To inform
question
What statement about communicating in today's work environment is least accurate?
answer
Hard-copy memos and letters still outnumber other forms of communication.
question
Which of the following statements about team-based management is least accurate?
answer
Companies that use team-based management prefer to train employees in teamwork skills rather than hire new workers who already possess these skills.
question
Thinking creatively and critically means
answer
having opinions that are backed by reason and evidence.
question
Social presence is defined as
answer
the degree of "salience" (being there) between a sender and receiver using a communication medium.
question
Media richness theory attempts to classify media in organizations according to
answer
how much clarifying information they are able to convey from a sender to a recipient.
question
Managers can use the grapevine productively by sharing bad news as well as good news.
answer
True
question
Some states have passed "Plain English" laws that require businesses to write policies, warranties, and contracts in language comprehensible to average readers.
answer
True
question
A company's CEO has developed a five-year strategic plan and will share it with all employees. This is an example of downward communication.
answer
True
question
David, a payroll clerk, came up with an idea for processing payroll more efficiently and presented it to the Human Resources Department manager. This is an example of an upward flow of communication.
answer
True
question
Chandra spent part of her workday booking flights and accommodations for her vacation next month. She tells herself that this is okay because all of her colleagues use the Internet for personal business at work, and they do it far more than she does. Into what ethical trap did she fall?
answer
Doctrine-of-relative filth trap
question
Alyssa has been asked by her boss to sign off on financial statements that she believes are false. Although she feels uncomfortable doing this, she's afraid that she'll be fired if she doesn't comply. Into what ethical trap has Alyssa fallen?
answer
False necessity trap
question
Which of the following is an example of upward communication in an organization?
answer
A warehouse worker suggests to his boss a way to improve employee morale.
question
Melinda was recently hired as manager of a small retail establishment. She immediately noticed that employees seem afraid to speak with her. She wants her employees to feel comfortable coming to her about anything. What organizational communication barrier is she trying to overcome?
answer
Lack of trust between management and employees
question
Mina wants to use the communication medium with the highest social presence. Which of the following should she choose?
answer
Live Chat
question
Communication today generally flows one way—from companies to the public.
answer
False
question
Sandra owns a medium-sized financial services firm. She would like to make the best use of the grapevine for communication. What advice would you give her?
answer
Increase the amount of information delivered through formal channels.
question
Which of the following is an example of an informal organizational communication channel?
answer
An employee starts a blog to share her personal work experiences, opinions, and observations.
question
Flattened management hierarchies allow companies to react more quickly to market changes.
answer
True
question
Which of the following statements about communicating in today's digital world is least accurate?
answer
Communication generally flows one way, from businesses to consumers.
question
To improve communication and to compete more effectively, many of today's companies have
answer
restructured and reengineered themselves into smaller operating units and work teams.
question
Communication in today's workplace is shifting from one-sided, slow forms of communication to interactive, instant, less paper-based communication.
answer
True
question
Kendra is responsible for updating her company's Facebook page with information about products, promotions, and special events. Kendra is using a communication medium called
answer
Social Media
question
The 21-century economy is based mainly on
answer
information and knowledge.
question
Gerard's company will no longer store its data using in-house hardware and software; instead, data will be stored online at a remote location. This type of technology is called
answer
Cloud computing.
question
Peter has started a new job and has noticed that there is a lot of gossip in his new workplace. He wants to come across professionally. What is the best advice you can give him?
answer
Attack any rumors about himself aggressively.
question
"Around-the clock availability"
answer
means that you may be expected to work long hours without extra compensation and be available practically anytime and anywhere, should a crisis strike at work.
question
Which of the following statements about global competition is least accurate?
answer
Only medium and large companies compete globally.
question
What has led to the increase in the number of companies that operate globally?
answer
All of these (the rise of new communication technologies and advanced forms of transportation, the removal of trade barriers, and saturated local markets)
question
Which of the following is an example of an internal organizational communication?
answer
A meeting of all department managers
question
Organizations with free-flowing, open communication tend to be more successful.
answer
True
question
The most prevalent communication channel in the workplace today is
answer
E-mail
question
Daniel must handle a complex organizational issue. Which of the following media would be best for this purpose?
answer
face-to-face meeting
question
In making hiring decisions, employers often rank communication skills among the most-requested competencies.
answer
True
question
Which of the following statements about laws is least accurate?
answer
Anything published on the Internet is in the public domain and can be used freely.
question
Of the following, the least rich communication media are
answer
flyers or posters.
question
The three basic functions of business communication are to
answer
inform, persuade, and promote goodwill.
question
The most significant trends in today's dynamic workplace include global competition, team-based projects, flattened management hierarchies, new communication technologies, and
answer
expectations of around-the-clock availability.
question
Which of the following is considered a rich medium?
answer
Face-to-face conversation
question
Only workers at the highest levels of management are expected to think creatively and critically.
answer
False
question
Knowledge and information workers must be able to think critically, make sound decisions, and
answer
communicate information to others.
question
What type of technology makes it possible to locate and identify a computing device as soon as users connect to the network?
answer
Presence technology
question
Which of the following statements about writing skills is most accurate?
answer
Having good writing skills can improve your chances for promotion and can result in higher earnings.
question
Which of the following statements about communicating in today's digital world is least accurate?
answer
Communication generally flows one way, from businesses to consumers.
