Overview

Chapter 11
Communication in Organizations

Multiple-Choice

1. Which of these defines communication?
a. A technical process that involves the transmission of data
b. A social process that involves information exchange
c. One person talking to another
d. Organizational memos
e. Gathering meaning to gain a strategic advantage

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy
REF: p. 295 OBJ: LO: 11-1 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

2. The primary purpose of organizational communication, according to your text, is to
a. define problems.
b. make decisions.
c. share information.
d. achieve coordinated action.
e. meet industry requirements.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate
REF: p. 295 OBJ: LO: 11-1 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

3. Communication in organizations includes all the following purposes EXCEPT:
a. expressing feelings and emotions.
b. assisting decision making.
c. information sharing.
d. coordinating.
e. allocating rewards.

ANS: E PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate
REF: p. 295 OBJ: LO: 11-1 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

4. International communication problems include all of the following sources EXCEPT:
a. colors.
b. body language.
c. new forms of communication technology.
d. exchange rates.
e. language.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate
REF: p. 296 OBJ: LO: 11-1 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

5. What are the three primary methods of communicating in organizations?
a. Message, feedback, response
b. Written, oral, nonverbal
c. Internal, external, liaison
d. Individual, organizational, medium-initiated
e. Primary, secondary, external

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy
REF: p. 296 OBJ: LO: 11-2 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

6. International communication is closely related to issues of coordination. One key coordination factor is
a. time differences across the two countries.
b. informal lines of communication.
c. organizational standards.
d. the source credibility.
e. the intentions of the receiver.

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate
REF: p. 296 OBJ: LO: 11-1 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

7. Eli needs to inform his team members that there is a Friday meeting this week. The most appropriate form of communication would be a
a. memo.
b. letter.
c. manual.
d. form.
e. report

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate
REF: p. 296 OBJ: LO: 11-2 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Application

8. What is the most common form of written communication in organizations?
a. E-mail
b. Speeches
c. Letters
d. Reports
e. Forms

ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Easy
REF: p. 296 OBJ: LO: 11-2 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

9. _____ communication takes place informally, during task activities, and throughout meetings.
a. Internet
b. Oral
c. Environmental
d. Secondary
e. Primary

ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate
REF: p. 297 OBJ: LO: 11-2 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Knowledge

10. All of the following are examples of oral communication in organizations EXCEPT:
a. a telephone call.
b. reading a manual out loud to coworkers.
c. discussing a task.
d. sending a memo to colleagues.
e. a conversion on cell phones.

ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Difficulty: Moderate
REF: p. 297-298 OBJ: LO: 11-2 NAT: BUSPROG: Communication
STA: DISC: Individual Dynamics KEY: Bloom’s: Comprehension