Question 1

____________ are informal public meetings for sharing information or discussing issues are called.
A) Downward communication
B) Lateral communication
C) Departmental meetings
D) Business meetings
E) Town hall meetings

Accepted Answer

Town hall meetings are informal gatherings where community members can come together to share information or discuss issues. It is usually conducted by a government or larger organization to give members of the public an opportunity to ask questions and voice their opinions.

Question 2

Active listening is enhanced by developing __________ with the sender.
A) apathy
B) sympathy
C) empathy
D) animosity
E) credibility

Accepted Answer

empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Developing empathy with the sender helps to establish a connection and better understand their perspective. Apathy, sympathy, and animosity create barriers to effective communication. Credibility is important but not directly related to developing a connection with the sender.

Question 3

How office workspace is designed and configured can influence _________.
A) the organization's performance
B) what technologies are used
C) how many new employees can be hired
D) the location of the headquarters
E) customer interactions

Accepted Answer

The design and configuration of an office workspace can have a significant impact on an organization's performance. Factors such as layout, lighting, furniture, and overall atmosphere can affect employee productivity, morale, and satisfaction.

Question 4

____________ allow instant sharing of information among people with related interests.
A) Information networks
B) Informal communications
C) E-mails and websites
D) Crowd-sourced communities
E) Open workplaces

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________ allow instant sharing of information among...

Question 5

In the __________ network, the leader serves as a hub through whom all communication passes.
A) chain
B) all-channel
C) wheel
D) lateral
E) virtual

Accepted Answer

In a wheel network, the leader or manager acts as the central hub through which all communication passes. This is also known as a centralized network, and it is the most efficient for making decisions and ensuring consistency. However, it can also create bottlenecks and lead to delays if the leader becomes overwhelmed or unavailable.

Question 6

Neil always listens to his friends without interrupting. He avoids premature judgments and tries not to formulate his responses while listening. Neil is using __________ to overcome potential communication problems.
A) active listening
B) selective responses
C) nonverbal cues
D) constrained emotions
E) simplified language

Accepted Answer

Neil is demonstrating active listening, where he is fully engaged and focused on understanding his friends' messages, without interrupting or formulating a response prematurely. This helps to overcome potential communication problems such as misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

Question 7

If a company is concerned with high member satisfaction, the __________ network is best.
A) chain
B) virtual
C) wheel
D) all-channel
E) diagonal

Accepted Answer

The all-channel network is the best choice because it allows for constant communication and interaction among all members, which can lead to high member satisfaction. This network also promotes collaboration and sharing of information, which can enhance overall performance and productivity.

Question 8

One result of an open workplace is _________.
A) less conflict among employees
B) more upward communication
C) more face-to-face communication with team members
D) fewer misunderstandings in interpersonal communications
E) fewer emotional barriers in interpersonal communications

Accepted Answer

An open workplace encourages more face-to-face communication with team members due to the lack of physical barriers.

Question 9

In addition to the direction of communication flow and organizational communication networks, another factor that influences organizational communication is _____________.
A) having a strong leader
B) clear rules about communication
C) using the all channel network
D) office workspace design
E) location of headquarters

Accepted Answer

Office workspace design can have a significant impact on organizational communication. Open office layouts, for example, can facilitate communication and collaboration, while closed-off cubicles can hinder it. The physical layout of the workspace can also affect the ease of communication between different departments or levels of employees.

Question 10

Because rumours that flow along the grapevine can never be eliminated entirely, managers can minimize the negative consequences of rumours by ________.
A) ignoring them completely
B) communicating openly and honestly with employees
C) encouraging an all-channel communication network
D) using filtering wherever possible
E) using a formal communication network

Accepted Answer

Ignoring rumours is not a solution as they may continue to spread and escalate. Encouraging open and honest communication between managers and employees can help to dispel rumours and provide accurate information. This can also build trust between managers and employees, leading to a more positive workplace culture. Using a formal communication network may not be effective in addressing rumours as they may still spread through informal channels. Filtering information may also lead to mistrust and further rumour-mongering.

Question 11

Which of the following is true for active listeners?
A) They should avoid making eye contact and nodding as this will distract the speaker.
B) They should not interrupt the speaker, but should feel free to ask questions about the topic.
C) They should listen for full meaning and avoid paraphrasing what the speaker is saying.
D) Developing empathy for the speaker is not advised as it proves an emotional barrier to listening.
E) They should actively participate in the communication process.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is true for...

Question 12

__________ communication can be beneficial when there is an interest in efficiency and speed of communication between managers at different levels and in different departments.
A) Upward
B) Downward
C) Lateral
D) Sequential
E) Diagonal

Accepted Answer

Diagonal communication is beneficial for efficiency and speed as it occurs between managers at different levels and departments, bypassing the traditional hierarchy.

Question 13

Which of the following forms of communication do cross-functional teams rely heavily on?
A) downward
B) upward
C) reciprocal
D) lateral
E) virtual

Accepted Answer

Cross-functional teams consist of members from different functional areas within an organization who work collaboratively on a project or initiative. In such teams, communication flows horizontally or laterally among team members, as they need to share information, coordinate tasks, and solve problems together. Thus, cross-functional teams rely heavily on lateral communication, which refers to exchanges between colleagues at the same level who have different roles and responsibilities. This type of communication allows team members to leverage diverse perspectives, expertise, and feedback to achieve common goals. Downward communication involves messages from higher-level managers to lower-level employees, while upward communication refers to messages from lower-level employees to higher-level managers. Reciprocal communication denotes the mutual exchange of messages between two or more parties. Virtual communication involves the use of technology-mediated channels to transmit information across physical and/or temporal distances. While some of these forms of communication may be relevant for cross-functional teams, lateral communication is the most essential for their performance and success.

Question 14

According to our textbook, in the offices of tomorrow __________.
A) robots will deliver office mail
B) employees will rely on text and instant messaging
C) managers will have to closely monitor employee e-mails
D) due to new technologies, misunderstandings in communications will be common
E) lateral communication will replace upward communication

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, employees will rely on text and instant messaging in the offices of tomorrow. The other options are not mentioned in the textbook.

Question 15

Communication that is not defined by the organization's structural hierarchy is called __________.
A) theoretical
B) diagonal
C) informal
D) formal
E) lateral

Accepted Answer

Informal communication refers to communication that is not defined by the organization's structural hierarchy. It may occur between coworkers or colleagues in different departments, and often takes place in unofficial settings such as the break room or outside of work hours. It can be important for building relationships and exchanging information that might not be shared through formal channels.

Question 16

An organization's grapevine works as both __________.
A) an opportunity to learn new tasks and see friends
B) a screen and turn away and send back messages
C) smoke and mirrors in dealing with difficult employee issues
D) a filter and a feedback mechanism for a manager
E) a formal and informal communication network

Accepted Answer

The grapevine acts as a filter by spreading information informally and as a feedback mechanism by providing managers with insights into employee sentiments and concerns.

Question 17

When a manager asks an employee to complete a task, he or she is communicating __________.
A) diagonally
B) theoretically
C) informally
D) formally
E) laterally

Accepted Answer

When a manager asks an employee to complete a task, it usually involves a formal communication as it is related to work and has specific expectations and goals.

Question 18

The vertical and horizontal flows of organizational communication can be combined into a variety of patterns called communication __________.
A) matrices
B) flowcharts
C) profiles
D) networks
E) channels

Accepted Answer

The combination of vertical and horizontal communication flows results in a network pattern. Matrices, flowcharts, and profiles are specific forms of visual representation that may be used to analyze or display communication patterns. Channels represent the specific media or methods used to transmit information, but do not describe the overall pattern of communication flows.

Question 19

After five hours of heated negotiations, Jill called a recess so that both sides in the dispute could cool down. Jill is using __________ to overcome potential communication barriers.
A) active listening
B) constrained emotions
C) nonverbal cues
D) feedback
E) simplified language

Accepted Answer

Jill is using constrained emotions to overcome potential communication barriers by recognizing that emotions are running high and calling for a break to allow everyone to cool down.

Question 20

Having a strong and identifiable leader is important in the __________ communication network.
A) chain
B) virtual
C) wheel
D) all-channel
E) diagonal

Accepted Answer

In a wheel communication network, all members communicate with one central member, who serves as the leader. This type of network relies heavily on the presence of a strong and identifiable leader to effectively coordinate and facilitate communication.

Quiz 11: Managers and Communication

____________ are informal public meetings for sharing information or discussing issues are called.

Active listening is enhanced by developing __________ with the sender.

How office workspace is designed and configured can influence _________.

____________ allow instant sharing of information among people with related interests.

In the __________ network, the leader serves as a hub through whom all communication passes.

Neil always listens to his friends without interrupting. He avoids premature judgments and tries not to formulate his responses while listening. Neil is using __________ to overcome potential communication problems.

If a company is concerned with high member satisfaction, the __________ network is best.

One result of an open workplace is _________.

In addition to the direction of communication flow and organizational communication networks, another factor that influences organizational communication is _____________.

Because rumours that flow along the grapevine can never be eliminated entirely, managers can minimize the negative consequences of rumours by ________.

Which of the following is true for active listeners?

__________ communication can be beneficial when there is an interest in efficiency and speed of communication between managers at different levels and in different departments.

Which of the following forms of communication do cross-functional teams rely heavily on?

According to our textbook, in the offices of tomorrow __________.

Communication that is not defined by the organization's structural hierarchy is called __________.

An organization's grapevine works as both __________.

When a manager asks an employee to complete a task, he or she is communicating __________.

The vertical and horizontal flows of organizational communication can be combined into a variety of patterns called communication __________.

After five hours of heated negotiations, Jill called a recess so that both sides in the dispute could cool down. Jill is using __________ to overcome potential communication barriers.

Having a strong and identifiable leader is important in the __________ communication network.