Communication Foundations
The Latin root of "communication" is "communicare,"
which means: a) To speak clearly, b) To share or make common , c) To
write effectively, d) To listen attentively
b) To share or make common
According to the textbook definition, organizational communication is a process whereby: a) Managers direct employees to complete tasks efficiently
b) An organizational stakeholder attempts to stimulate meaning in the mind
of another organizational stakeholder c) Organizations create policies and procedures for effective operation d) Information flows through formal channels in a hierarchical structure
b) An organizational stakeholder attempts to stimulate meaning
in the mind of another organizational stakeholder
What is intrapersonal communication? a) Communication between two close friends b) Communication within small groups c) The conversation you have with yourself d) Communication between family members
c) The conversation you have with yourself
According to the text, culture is best defined as: a) A fixed set of traditions passed down through generations b) The ongoing negotiation of learned and patterned beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors c) The artistic and intellectual achievements of a society d) The customs and social behaviors of a particular nation
b) The ongoing negotiation of learned and patterned beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors
Information-rich channels convey: a) More written information b) More nonverbal information c) More technical information d) More statistical information
b) More nonverbal information
According to the text, ethical communication is the foundation of: a) Profitable business operations b) Trust and respect in relationships c) Marketing success d) Technical skill development
b) Trust and respect in relationships
In the communication process, understanding involves: a) Only listening carefully, b) Perceiving, interpreting, and relating to what we already know c) Speaking clearly and concisely d) Using formal language
b) Perceiving, interpreting, and relating to what we already know
What is centralization in organizational structure? a) The degree to which decision-making authority is concentrated at higher levels b) The extent to
which policies and procedures are written down c) The number of departments in an organization d) The physical location of company headquarters
a) The degree to which decision-making authority is concentrated at higher levels
Charles Cooley's "looking-glass self" theory suggests that: a) We learn about ourselves primarily through self-reflection b) We develop self-concept by
comparing ourselves to idealized media images c) We learn about ourselves by watching how others react to us d) We see ourselves most clearly when
alone
c) We learn about ourselves by watching how others react to us
What is ethnocentrism? a) The tendency to view your culture as superior to others b) The study of different ethnic groups c) The practice of learning about multiple cultures d) The process of adapting to a new culture
a) The tendency to view your culture as superior to others
What is the first step in preparing for a productive meeting? a) Creating an agenda, b) Determining if a meeting is necessary, c) Booking a meeting room,
d) Sending calendar invites
b) Determining if a meeting is necessary
The term "satisficing" in decision-making refers to: a) Maximizing potential outcomes b) Accepting the first alternative that meets minimum criteria c)
Using intuition instead of analysis d) Generating creative solutions
b) Accepting the first alternative that meets minimum criteria
"Interference" in the communication process refers to: a) Only physical noise that disrupts communication b) Anything that blocks or changes the source's intended meaning c) Feedback that contradicts the message d) The inability to use proper grammar
b) Anything that blocks or changes the source's intended meaning
Which of the following best characterizes an organic organizational structure? a) Highly formalized with specific job descriptions b) Centralized decision-
making processes c) Flexible with low levels of formalization d) Tall hierarchy with many management layers
c) Flexible with low levels of formalization
Why is understanding intrapersonal communication important for external communication? a)It has no impact on external communication, b) It shapes how you listen, respond, and interpret messages from others, c) It only matters for public speaking situations d) It helps you speak louder and more clearly
b) It shapes how you listen, respond, and interpret messages from others
How does the text describe cultures in terms of change? a) Cultures are static and resist change b) Cultures are dynamic systems that constantly change c) Cultures only change when forced by external factors d) Cultures change in predictable seven-year cycles
b) Cultures are dynamic systems that constantly change
Which of the following is an example of role conflict? a) Not knowing what your job responsibilities are b) Having too many tasks to complete in the available time c) Being asked to increase quality while reducing costs d) Starting a new position without proper training
c) Being asked to increase quality while reducing costs
According to research, which step in the rational decision-making model is most challenging and often leads to failure? a) Identifying the problem, b) Establishing decision criteria, c) Searching for alternatives, d) Implementing the chosen alternative
c) Searching for altenatives
In the communication process, the "channel" refers to: a) The relationship between communicators b) How messages travel between source and receiver c) The environment where communication takes place d) The feedback provided by the receiver
b) How messages travel between source and receiver
According to Stanley Deetz, what are the three ways to conceptualize "organizational communication"?
a) As a theory, as a practice, and as a skill, b) As a discipline, as a descriptor, and as a phenomenon, c) As a science, as an art, and as a profession, d) As a management tool, as a research method, and as a cultural artifact
b) As a discipline, as a descriptor, and as a phenomenon
What is the key difference between hearing and listening? a) Hearing involves the ears while listening involves the brain b) Hearing is an accidental
and automatic brain response while listening is purposeful and focused c) Hearing is a learned skill while listening is natural d) Hearing is internal while
listening is externa
b) Hearing is an accidental and automatic brain response while listening is purposeful and focused
Which of the following is NOT one of the dimensions in the Organizational Culture Profile (OCP) framework? a) Innovative b) Team-oriented c) Service-oriented d) Detail-oriented
Answer: c) Service-oriented
According to Affective Events Theory (AET), what is the relationship between workplace events and behaviors? a) Events directly cause behaviors without emotional involvement b) Events trigger emotions, which then influence behaviors c) Behaviors cause events, which then trigger emotions d) Events and behaviors are unrelated in workplace settings
b) Events trigger emotions, which then influence behaviors
What percentage of managers surveyed admitted to using intuition to make decisions at least sometimes? a) 49% b) 69% c) 89% d) 99%
c) 89%
The constructivist model of communication focuses on: a) One-way transmission of information b) Eliminating all forms of interference c) Negotiated meaning and common ground d) Standardizing communication processes
c) Negotiated meaning and common ground
Where did the term "grapevine" originate? a) From vineyard workers who shared news while harvesting b) From Civil War telegraph wires that resembled tangled grapevines c) From ancient Roman communication practices d) From factory floor layouts in early industrial settings
b) From Civil War telegraph wires that resembled tangled grapevines
What is the approximate gap between speaking rate and listening capacity
according to the text? a) People speak at 125 words per minute but can listen at 500-800 words per minute b) People speak at 250 words per minute but
can listen at 300-400 words per minute c) People speak at 100 words per minute but can listen at 200-300 words per minute d) People speak at 175
words per minute but can listen at 350-450 words per minute
a) People speak at 125 words per minute but can listen at 500-800 words per minute
What does the text suggest about mission and vision statements? a) They are meaningless in modern organizations b) They are only important to senior
management c) They must be actualized through action to have meaning d) They should be changed annually to remain relevant
c) They must be actualized through action to have meaning
According to the 2023 Gallup report, what percentage of voluntarily exiting U.S. employees said their manager or organization could have done something to prevent them from leaving? a) 32% b) 42% c) 52% d) 62%
c) 52%
The "sunk costs fallacy" is most closely associated with which decision bias? a) Overconfidence bias b) Hindsight bias c) Anchoring bias d) Escalation of
commitment
d) Escalation of commitment