MCOM 2310- EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which activities are examples of using communication to serve an instrumental need? -
Answers- -Booking a flight to Cleveland
-Calling to reserve a table at a restaurant
-Asking an auto mechanic if he has time to repair a car
What type of rule clearly articulates the way people are required to communicate or not
communicate? - Answers- Explicit
When Greg frowns and says, "Your report is late," what is the content dimension of his
statement? - Answers- The report is late.
What are words? - Answers- -Symbols
-Sounds or marks on a paper or screen
-Representations of ideas
When delivering a business message, why is it important to adapt your behavior to the
audience? - Answers- -Factors such as age and culture affect how the audience will
respond.
-What works in one situation might not be effective in another.
-What is appropriate will vary, depending on the context.
What type of needs are served by communication that helps people deal with practical,
everyday tasks? - Answers- Instrumental
Which examples demonstrate explicit communication rules? - Answers- -A bank forbids
its employees from discussing their customers outside of the work environment.
-A manager instructs the company's receptionist to greet every customer with, "Hello!
How may I help you?"
Why is it correct to say that most language is arbitrary? - Answers- People who use a
language decide what the words mean, and they can change the meaning.
Which needs does communication serve by shaping the way individuals portray
themselves to others? - Answers- Identity needs
Debbie asks if she can leave work early because she has a headache. Her manager
refuses her request, even though it has been a slow day with few customers. He thinks
that Debbie is making up an excuse to avoid doing her job. What characteristic does the
manager lack? - Answers- Empathy
Through communication, people resolve their ______ need to obtain data and the
perspective to make good decisions. - Answers- informational
,What is the term for rules that most people seem to know and follow, even though those
rules are not posted anywhere or stated directly? - Answers- Implicit
The use of words to communicate is called _______ communication. - Answers- Verbal
What is it called when a person conveys meaning through gestures and other actions
instead of words? - Answers- Nonverbal communication
What part of a message is conveyed by tone and the manner in which words are
spoken? - Answers- The relational dimension
What is the term for communication about communication? - Answers-
Metacommunication
Which statement is true? - Answers- Communication is a process.
Feedback, noise, context, and the message are among the ______ of the
communication process. - Answers- core elements
Which of the following are among the six basic principles of communication? (Select all
that apply.) - Answers- -It is governed by rules.
-It serves many needs.
-It derives its meaning from the people who use it.
Which activities are examples of using communication to serve identity needs? -
Answers- -Joking with colleagues at work
-Looking poised and enthused during a job interview
Empathy allows people to ______. - Answers- -consider a situation from someone
else's perspective
-imagine what other people are feeling
What is the creation and exchange of messages called? - Answers- Communication
After someone expresses an idea in language or through some type of nonverbal
behavior, what must be done by the person who receives the message? - Answers-
Decoding
The physical and psychological environment in which a message is communicated is
the ______. - Answers- context
What are the primary types of noise? - Answers- -Psychological
-Physiological
-Physical
,In recent years, what developments have increased the importance of communicating
via professional networks? - Answers- -Improved communication technologies
-Globalization
What are the characteristics of formal professional networks? - Answers- -Requiring
accountability to other members of the network
-Standard sets of responsibilities
-Clear lines of authority and reporting structures
Within a professional network, communication among relatively equal colleagues flows
in what direction? - Answers- Lateral
What is the significance of the fact that a "robot" is a traffic light in South Africa and a
humanlike machine in the United States, and a "mouse" can be a small rodent or a
computer accessory? - Answers- -Different cultures attach their own meanings to
words.
-The meaning of a word depends on who is using it.
-The meaning of a word can change as time passes.
Context includes what environments that affect a receiver's response to a message? -
Answers- -Psychological
-Physical
In the field of communication, what is the term for things that interfere with a person's
ability to understand what you are trying to communicate? - Answers- Noise
What saying illustrates the idea that participation in professional networks enhances a
person's career? - Answers- It's not what you know, but who you know that matters.
In which directions does communication flow in formal professional networks? -
Answers- -Downward
-Upward
-Horizontal
What factors influence the degree of formality required in business communication? -
Answers- -Nature of relationships on the job
-Size of the organization
-Culture of the organization
Within a formal professional communication network, formality typically ______ as
familiarity increases. - Answers- decreases
Voluntary professional connections, such as friendships among co-workers, are called
_________ professional networks. - Answers- informal
, What is a water cooler conversation? - Answers- An informal interaction at work, often
in an office hallway
With regard to professional networking, which statement is true? - Answers-
Networkers should evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of each communication
channel.
Which elements are essential for building credibility in professional communication?
(Select all that apply.) - Answers- -Knowing the audience
-Developing rapport
-Maintaining accountability
Which statements about the post-trust era are true? - Answers- -Most employees are
skeptical of their leaders.
-People generally believe companies operate against the public interest.
Why is rapport important in professional relationships? - Answers- It builds trust and
harmony.
What are the characteristics of active listening? - Answers- -The listener is willing to
hear and understand.
-The listener's attention is focused completely on the speaker.
-The listener seeks a connection with the speaker.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, what is the best way to
deal with an ethical dilemma in business or professional work? - Answers- Behave
within the boundaries of the organization's values and code of conduct.
How do effective communicators cultivate credibility? - Answers- -Genuinely
understanding audiences
-Adapting to audience needs, wants, and preferences
-Establishing connections among professionals
What elements are essential for a person to become competent at communication? -
Answers- -Learning
-Practice
Employees are more likely to view a boss as having credibility if the boss ______.
(Select all that apply.) - Answers- -maintains accountability
-adapts to the audience
In any particular situation, a good communicator is able to express messages in ways
that are ______. - Answers- -appropriate
-effective
Which activities are examples of using communication to serve an instrumental need? -
Answers- -Booking a flight to Cleveland
-Calling to reserve a table at a restaurant
-Asking an auto mechanic if he has time to repair a car
What type of rule clearly articulates the way people are required to communicate or not
communicate? - Answers- Explicit
When Greg frowns and says, "Your report is late," what is the content dimension of his
statement? - Answers- The report is late.
What are words? - Answers- -Symbols
-Sounds or marks on a paper or screen
-Representations of ideas
When delivering a business message, why is it important to adapt your behavior to the
audience? - Answers- -Factors such as age and culture affect how the audience will
respond.
-What works in one situation might not be effective in another.
-What is appropriate will vary, depending on the context.
What type of needs are served by communication that helps people deal with practical,
everyday tasks? - Answers- Instrumental
Which examples demonstrate explicit communication rules? - Answers- -A bank forbids
its employees from discussing their customers outside of the work environment.
-A manager instructs the company's receptionist to greet every customer with, "Hello!
How may I help you?"
Why is it correct to say that most language is arbitrary? - Answers- People who use a
language decide what the words mean, and they can change the meaning.
Which needs does communication serve by shaping the way individuals portray
themselves to others? - Answers- Identity needs
Debbie asks if she can leave work early because she has a headache. Her manager
refuses her request, even though it has been a slow day with few customers. He thinks
that Debbie is making up an excuse to avoid doing her job. What characteristic does the
manager lack? - Answers- Empathy
Through communication, people resolve their ______ need to obtain data and the
perspective to make good decisions. - Answers- informational
,What is the term for rules that most people seem to know and follow, even though those
rules are not posted anywhere or stated directly? - Answers- Implicit
The use of words to communicate is called _______ communication. - Answers- Verbal
What is it called when a person conveys meaning through gestures and other actions
instead of words? - Answers- Nonverbal communication
What part of a message is conveyed by tone and the manner in which words are
spoken? - Answers- The relational dimension
What is the term for communication about communication? - Answers-
Metacommunication
Which statement is true? - Answers- Communication is a process.
Feedback, noise, context, and the message are among the ______ of the
communication process. - Answers- core elements
Which of the following are among the six basic principles of communication? (Select all
that apply.) - Answers- -It is governed by rules.
-It serves many needs.
-It derives its meaning from the people who use it.
Which activities are examples of using communication to serve identity needs? -
Answers- -Joking with colleagues at work
-Looking poised and enthused during a job interview
Empathy allows people to ______. - Answers- -consider a situation from someone
else's perspective
-imagine what other people are feeling
What is the creation and exchange of messages called? - Answers- Communication
After someone expresses an idea in language or through some type of nonverbal
behavior, what must be done by the person who receives the message? - Answers-
Decoding
The physical and psychological environment in which a message is communicated is
the ______. - Answers- context
What are the primary types of noise? - Answers- -Psychological
-Physiological
-Physical
,In recent years, what developments have increased the importance of communicating
via professional networks? - Answers- -Improved communication technologies
-Globalization
What are the characteristics of formal professional networks? - Answers- -Requiring
accountability to other members of the network
-Standard sets of responsibilities
-Clear lines of authority and reporting structures
Within a professional network, communication among relatively equal colleagues flows
in what direction? - Answers- Lateral
What is the significance of the fact that a "robot" is a traffic light in South Africa and a
humanlike machine in the United States, and a "mouse" can be a small rodent or a
computer accessory? - Answers- -Different cultures attach their own meanings to
words.
-The meaning of a word depends on who is using it.
-The meaning of a word can change as time passes.
Context includes what environments that affect a receiver's response to a message? -
Answers- -Psychological
-Physical
In the field of communication, what is the term for things that interfere with a person's
ability to understand what you are trying to communicate? - Answers- Noise
What saying illustrates the idea that participation in professional networks enhances a
person's career? - Answers- It's not what you know, but who you know that matters.
In which directions does communication flow in formal professional networks? -
Answers- -Downward
-Upward
-Horizontal
What factors influence the degree of formality required in business communication? -
Answers- -Nature of relationships on the job
-Size of the organization
-Culture of the organization
Within a formal professional communication network, formality typically ______ as
familiarity increases. - Answers- decreases
Voluntary professional connections, such as friendships among co-workers, are called
_________ professional networks. - Answers- informal
, What is a water cooler conversation? - Answers- An informal interaction at work, often
in an office hallway
With regard to professional networking, which statement is true? - Answers-
Networkers should evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of each communication
channel.
Which elements are essential for building credibility in professional communication?
(Select all that apply.) - Answers- -Knowing the audience
-Developing rapport
-Maintaining accountability
Which statements about the post-trust era are true? - Answers- -Most employees are
skeptical of their leaders.
-People generally believe companies operate against the public interest.
Why is rapport important in professional relationships? - Answers- It builds trust and
harmony.
What are the characteristics of active listening? - Answers- -The listener is willing to
hear and understand.
-The listener's attention is focused completely on the speaker.
-The listener seeks a connection with the speaker.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management, what is the best way to
deal with an ethical dilemma in business or professional work? - Answers- Behave
within the boundaries of the organization's values and code of conduct.
How do effective communicators cultivate credibility? - Answers- -Genuinely
understanding audiences
-Adapting to audience needs, wants, and preferences
-Establishing connections among professionals
What elements are essential for a person to become competent at communication? -
Answers- -Learning
-Practice
Employees are more likely to view a boss as having credibility if the boss ______.
(Select all that apply.) - Answers- -maintains accountability
-adapts to the audience
In any particular situation, a good communicator is able to express messages in ways
that are ______. - Answers- -appropriate
-effective
