BCOM chapter 1 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Janice believes her supervisor has done something wrong. She should immediately go to the head of the company to make sure that the wrongdoing doesn't continue.
answer
false
question
Daniel 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
Laura frequently uses her work computer to check personal e-mail; however, she feels what she is doing is acceptable because her colleagues use their computers much more than she does for personal activities. Laura has fallen into the self-deception ethical trap.
answer
false
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
Most business schools today focus on teaching students how to earn short-term, immediate profits.
answer
false
question
Being ethical makes good business sense.
answer
true
question
Ethics can be defined as "the conventional standards of right and wrong that prescribe what people should do."
answer
true
question
Richard just learned that an untrue, negative rumor about him is circulating around his workplace. He should ignore it because it will eventually go away.
answer
false
question
Managers can use the grapevine productively by sharing bad news as well as good news.
answer
true
question
Downsizing, cost-cutting measures, and the tremendous influx of temporary workers in the current workplace all contribute to the reduced feelings of trust employees feel toward their employers.
answer
true
question
A company's management team has come up with a strategic plan and will share it with all employees. This is an example of downward communication.
answer
true
question
Jacqueline, 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 a downward flow of communication.
answer
false
question
Many of today's companies have decreased the number of operating units and managers, thereby shortening lines of communication.
answer
true
question
Tonya, a company department manager, frequently communicates via e-mail with other department managers within the company. This is an example of an upward flow of communication.
answer
false
question
A free exchange of information helps boost efficiency and productivity within organizations.
answer
true
question
Information flows through formal communication channels in three directions: downward, upward, and spiral.
answer
false
question
One disadvantage of written communication is that it can be dangerous.
answer
true
question
One advantage of oral communication over written communication is that it minimizes misunderstandings.
answer
true
question
Today's organizations prefer interactive, fast-results communication, such as e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, and cell phones.
answer
true
question
The three primary business communication functions are to inform, to persuade, and to entertain.
answer
false
question
Wes 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 external communication.
answer
true
question
External communication includes sharing ideas and messages with superiors, coworkers, and subordinates.
answer
false
question
Creating an environment for useful feedback is an effective way to overcome communication obstacles.
answer
true
question
Samantha's poor listening skills cause her to miss much of what her colleagues say during meetings. The barrier to communication she is experiencing is a lack of language skill.
answer
true
question
You and your boss come from very different educational and professional backgrounds. You are most likely to experience communication barriers due to differing frames of reference.
answer
true
question
The best feedback to a message is descriptive rather than evaluative.
answer
true
question
The sender of a message has primary responsibility for the success or failure of the communication transaction.
answer
true
question
The process of communication begins when the receiver puts a message into writing.
answer
false
question
Decoding is the process of converting an idea into words or gestures that will convey meaning.
answer
false
question
As long as the message is properly transmitted from the sender to the receiver, successful communication has taken place.
answer
false
question
Diverse workforces are not able to respond as effectively as homogeneous workforces to changes in local markets.
answer
false
question
The number of people in the workforce who telecommute is decreasing.
answer
false
question
Communication technologies such as e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, cell phones, blogs, wikis, and wireless networking allow employees to collaborate and complete their work from anywhere in the world.
answer
true
question
Flattened management hierarchies allow companies to react more quickly to market changes.
answer
true
question
Small, medium, and large companies increasingly find themselves competing in global rather than local markets.
answer
true
question
Knowledge and information workers are paid for their ability to learn and to think creatively and critically.
answer
true
question
The key ingredients in today's economy are information and knowledge.
answer
true
question
You are born with the abilities to read, listen, speak, and write effectively.
answer
false
question
Because of new communication technologies, writing skills are especially important today.
answer
true
question
In making hiring decisions, employers often rank communication skills among the most-requested competencies.
answer
true
