ISM 3004 EXAM 1 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Everybody needs tech skills! Gartner analyzed 38 million job postings over the last 4
years and found that there was a ____% growth in the tech skills required for non-IT
jobs. Also, ____% of the CEOs that Gartner surveyed think that digital dexterity should
be a key requirement when hiring new employees -- Answer ✔✔ 60% non IT & 80% of
CEOs
What does it mean that tech skills have a "half-life"? What's the solution to this
problem? -- Answer ✔✔ Means they rapidly change and become obsolete. Learning how
to learn is the solution to this problem, also being agile and learn how to adapt, be
curious, investigate, and be creative.
communications -- Answer ✔✔ a process by which information is exchanges between
individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior
What is necessary for a symbol to communicate meaning? -- Answer ✔✔ shared
understanding
,Understand how behavior has different meanings in different contexts. -- Answer ✔✔
Different cultures read behaviors differently. Tongue example about how sticking your
tongue out means different things in different cultures
Roughly ____% of meaning is transmitted via nonverbal communications -- Answer ✔✔
70-80%
What are the characteristics of the email communications method? Strengths and
weaknesses? -- Answer ✔✔ Strengths: cheap, ubiquitous (everywhere)
Weaknesses: volume (overwhelming amount), interruption, only verbal
What are the consequences of trying to juggle emails and other work? -- Answer ✔✔
Interruption. Clinical trials indicate that for workers who try to juggle email with other
work, their IQ drops by 10 points. Additionally, when you're in the zone and you get
interrupted by email, interruption reduces productivity. You can lose up to 20 minutes
when you're interrupted.
Why are email subject lines so important? -- Answer ✔✔ If you're not at the top of the
corporate chain, your subject must be compelling or else people aren't going to give it
more than 3 seconds before it is deleted. Without a good subject its highly likely your
email will be ignored
What are the two main reasons people read emails? -- Answer ✔✔ one the sender is
important & two the subject line is compelling
___% of emails are deleted in less than ___ seconds. -- Answer ✔✔ 80% in 3
, Know how to make a good subject line for an email. -- Answer ✔✔ Short subjects-
concise & compelling
What does TL;DR mean? -- Answer ✔✔ too long didn't read
Only ___% of people say they only read ___ of an email. -- Answer ✔✔ 60% only read
half
How should that fact change how you write emails? -- Answer ✔✔ change your format.
tone- professional, polite, beware. proofread
What best practices were offered for formatting business emails? -- Answer ✔✔ Use
greetings and closings. Keep it short- attach long, complex details. Keep your tone
professional because the email can be forwarded. Be polite. Proofread.
What warning did Mr. Olson give about people perceiving the tone of an email? --
Answer ✔✔ Don't assume you are correctly reading someone's email. & when you're
writing to someone else be aware that they may interpret your email wrong. There
aren't great non-verbal communication elements, therefore your email can come off
blunt or rude. So put some please and thank you to reduce the abruptness and make it
seem more polite and friendly.
In what situations should you refrain from using email? -- Answer ✔✔ Sensitive
information (private, protected by law, trade secrets). Long complicated messages.
Difficult (controversial) messages. Expressing grievances. Resolving conflicts. Business
email should not be used for personal purposes.
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Everybody needs tech skills! Gartner analyzed 38 million job postings over the last 4
years and found that there was a ____% growth in the tech skills required for non-IT
jobs. Also, ____% of the CEOs that Gartner surveyed think that digital dexterity should
be a key requirement when hiring new employees -- Answer ✔✔ 60% non IT & 80% of
CEOs
What does it mean that tech skills have a "half-life"? What's the solution to this
problem? -- Answer ✔✔ Means they rapidly change and become obsolete. Learning how
to learn is the solution to this problem, also being agile and learn how to adapt, be
curious, investigate, and be creative.
communications -- Answer ✔✔ a process by which information is exchanges between
individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior
What is necessary for a symbol to communicate meaning? -- Answer ✔✔ shared
understanding
,Understand how behavior has different meanings in different contexts. -- Answer ✔✔
Different cultures read behaviors differently. Tongue example about how sticking your
tongue out means different things in different cultures
Roughly ____% of meaning is transmitted via nonverbal communications -- Answer ✔✔
70-80%
What are the characteristics of the email communications method? Strengths and
weaknesses? -- Answer ✔✔ Strengths: cheap, ubiquitous (everywhere)
Weaknesses: volume (overwhelming amount), interruption, only verbal
What are the consequences of trying to juggle emails and other work? -- Answer ✔✔
Interruption. Clinical trials indicate that for workers who try to juggle email with other
work, their IQ drops by 10 points. Additionally, when you're in the zone and you get
interrupted by email, interruption reduces productivity. You can lose up to 20 minutes
when you're interrupted.
Why are email subject lines so important? -- Answer ✔✔ If you're not at the top of the
corporate chain, your subject must be compelling or else people aren't going to give it
more than 3 seconds before it is deleted. Without a good subject its highly likely your
email will be ignored
What are the two main reasons people read emails? -- Answer ✔✔ one the sender is
important & two the subject line is compelling
___% of emails are deleted in less than ___ seconds. -- Answer ✔✔ 80% in 3
, Know how to make a good subject line for an email. -- Answer ✔✔ Short subjects-
concise & compelling
What does TL;DR mean? -- Answer ✔✔ too long didn't read
Only ___% of people say they only read ___ of an email. -- Answer ✔✔ 60% only read
half
How should that fact change how you write emails? -- Answer ✔✔ change your format.
tone- professional, polite, beware. proofread
What best practices were offered for formatting business emails? -- Answer ✔✔ Use
greetings and closings. Keep it short- attach long, complex details. Keep your tone
professional because the email can be forwarded. Be polite. Proofread.
What warning did Mr. Olson give about people perceiving the tone of an email? --
Answer ✔✔ Don't assume you are correctly reading someone's email. & when you're
writing to someone else be aware that they may interpret your email wrong. There
aren't great non-verbal communication elements, therefore your email can come off
blunt or rude. So put some please and thank you to reduce the abruptness and make it
seem more polite and friendly.
In what situations should you refrain from using email? -- Answer ✔✔ Sensitive
information (private, protected by law, trade secrets). Long complicated messages.
Difficult (controversial) messages. Expressing grievances. Resolving conflicts. Business
email should not be used for personal purposes.
