Q&A Hero

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Artificial intelligence allows most search engines today to understand questions as people speak them. This is also known as _______ language questioning.

Q: In parliamentary procedure, a "motion" requires a second in order to be considered by the group.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: ________ data result from firsthand experience and observation and can be collected through surveys, interviews, observation, and experimentation.

Q: According to parliamentary procedure, the term "motion" refers to a "yes" vote on a proposal.

Q: Parliamentary procedure slows down the pace of a meeting and obliges participants to spend some time deliberating on issues.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Under ________ use, individuals have limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission. These uses are for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Probably the most frequently used graphic in reports is the ________, which presents quantitative or verbal information in systematic columns and rows.

Q: It is inappropriate to discuss time constraints during the opening of a business meeting.

Q: When you are opening a meeting, it is wise to identify the goals and provide necessary background information.

Q: Heidi is writing a report about ways to reduce the time it takes to process a customer return and is determining why the topic is worth investigating at this time. Heidi is considering the ________ of the report.a. scopeb. limitationsc. significanced. purpose

Q: An agenda that describes goals for each discussion can help ensure that meetings are outcome-driven rather than process-driven.

Q: In which of the following situations should the direct pattern of organization be used for a business report? a. When readers must be persuaded b. When readers are unfamiliar with the problem c. When readers may be disappointed or hostile toward the report's findings d. When readers are familiar with the topic

Q: An agenda should list specific goals so participants will have the opportunity to complete necessary preliminary work prior to the meeting.

Q: You are writing a short, routine report for your supervisor and want to use an informal writing style. Which of the following should you do? a. Because you are writing to a superior, create a distance between yourself and the reader. b. Avoid humor and figures of speech. c. Use shorter sentences and familiar words. d. Omit any colorful adjectives and adverbs.

Q: The textbook suggests that meetings are desirable when confusing or controversial information is being communicated.

Q: The issues or elements to be investigated in a research project are defined in the ________. a. significance of the study b. scope statement c. recommendations to be offered d. limitations of the study

Q: Questions with more than one correct answer are better handled in meetings, while those with only one solution can usually be handled best by individuals.

Q: Accomplishing a task that has a single correct, verifiable answer is an appropriate reason for calling a group meeting.

Q: An expanded statement of purpose for a study includes three additional factors. What are they? a. Scope, significance, and limitations b. Scope, conclusions, and recommendations c. Work plan, significance, and limitations d. Findings, conclusions, and recommendations

Q: Nadia is conducting research on the use of social networking sites by observing how her coworkers use these tools in the workplace. What type of data is she collecting? a. Primary data b. Secondary data c. Online data d. Survey data

Q: People who do the same job independently cannot benefit from sharing ideas in a group meeting.

Q: One deciding factor for whether or not members of a task force should come together for a meeting is: "How interdependent are the individual members' tasks?"

Q: Which of the following is a useful guideline for preparing effective surveys? a. Use questions that produce qualitative answers. b. Include as many questions on your survey as necessary, even if you may not use the information in your final report. c. Avoid leading or ambiguous questions. d. Never offer survey participants compensation as this will skew the results.

Q: In planning his report, Byron breaks the major investigative problem into subproblems. This process is sometimes called ________. a. visualizing the problem b. focusing the problem c. factoring the problem d. expanding the problem

Q: Videoconferences require an elaborate organizational network.

Q: Which of the following reports is an example of an informational report? a. A report that recommends one of six candidates for an executive assistant position b. A report that compares three sites for a new clothing boutique location and recommends one c. A report showing how a company has complied with IRS regulations d. A report that presents several alternatives for decreasing employee absenteeism, including recommendations for the best solution

Q: Teleconferences and videoconferences are two types of virtual meetings.

Q: Benjamin needs to illustrate the percentage each expense represents of total company expenses. His best choice is a(n) ________. a. pie chart b. line chart c. illustration d. bar chart

Q: Meetings that function only as ritual activities are a waste of valuable time.

Q: Three types of meetings include information-sharing, problem-solving, and ritual activities.

Q: Blake wants to avoid copyright infringement for material he finds online. What should he do? a. Recognize that anything he finds on the Internet is in the public domain. b. Ask for permission before using material he finds online. c. Include a footnote for everything he uses from online sources, which will protect him from copyright infringement. d. Realize that he is safe to use any material that does not have a copyright notice.

Q: When employees feel cynical about the value of the workplace meetings they are required to attend, this cynicism contributes to a negative organizational culture.

Q: Jared is analyzing the information he found on a website before he includes it in an analytical report for a client. In checking for evidence of bias, use of references, and errors in spelling and grammar, Jared is evaluating the ________. a. currency of the website b. authority of the website c. content of the website d. accuracy of the website

Q: Surveys indicate that employees consider about one-third of the workplace meetings they attend to be unnecessary or poorly conducted.

Q: Which of the following types of reports would not be sent to someone outside the organization? a. Manuscript format b. Digital format c. Letter format d. Memo format

Q: The authority-rule decision-making method A. works only for minor issues. B. empowers the designated leader to make the final decision. C. incorporates into the final decision all the suggestions supplied by subordinates. D. involves a laissez-faire leader.

Q: Courts of law use four factors as a test in deciding disputes over fair use of copyrighted material. Which of the following is not one of those factors? a. Purpose and character of the use, particularly whether for profit b. Amount and sustainability of portion used c. Amount of money paid to use the copyrighted information d. Nature of the copyrighted use

Q: The "minority decision" method of decision-making A. can work well if the larger group has confidence in the minority group. B. should be avoided whenever possible because it is undemocratic. C. takes advantage of the creativity of the entire group. D. builds unanimous support from every member.

Q: Select the most accurate statement about sources found on the Web. a. Information posted at most sites has undergone the same editing and scrutiny given to articles in scholarly publications. b. Researchers can safely assume that the information posted on websites by individuals and companies is reputable. c. Wikis, blogs, and discussion forum entries are short-lived and change constantly. d. Wikipedia is reliable and should be used when conducting any scholarly research.

Q: Which of the following does NOT describe the "majority vote" method of decision-making? A. A substantial minority may feel resentful after the decision is made. B. The group can be railroaded into accepting a plan. C. Majority vote is the best method for deciding important issues in small groups. D. Decisions can be made quickly.

Q: Which of the following reports would most likely be written using an informal writing style? a. A thesis submitted by a PhD student b. A research report about economic trends written by a consultant for her client c. A summary report written to your supervisor about a conference you attended d. A business proposal written to secure a contract with a governmental agency

Q: The decision mode in which all members agree (at least to some extent) is known as A. consensus. B. yes-yes. C. concurrence. D. complementarity.

Q: Adopting a formal style for reports is most appropriate when you wish to _______. a. show objectivity b. share information about a noncontroversial topic c. express your preference d. defer to the reader's authority

Q: Which of the following does NOT describe consensus? A. It ranges from unanimous agreement to "Well, I can live with it." B. It occurs when members of a group support a collective decision. C. It can and will occur in every productive group. D. It means hammering agreements out of conflicting ideas.

Q: When incorporating a graphic in the body of your report, you should ________. a. use large amounts of color to engage the reader b. enhance the visual to make data look more dramatic c. include a reference to the graphic in the text d. assume that the reader will draw the same conclusions you did from the data

Q: Which of the following is NOT a necessary question to ask when selecting the best of your proposed solutions? A. Will the proposal bring about all the desired changes? B. Is this the plan that takes the least effort for us to achieve? C. Is the solution feasible? D. Does the idea have any serious disadvantages?

Q: The first step in writing a report is to ________. a. prepare a work plan b. determine your research strategy c. understand the problem or assignment clearly d. compose the first draft

Q: You are on a team of students using the reflective-thinking sequence to select the communication text for next year's students. Currently, your team is completing the third step (identifying the criteria to use when you compare possible textbooks). Which of the following statements is NOT an example of a criterion? A. I like this book best. B. The information in the book we choose should be accurate. C. The text we choose should be written so it's interesting to read. D. The content of the text we choose should be up to date.

Q: All of the following remarks would help you analyze a parking problem except: A. "Who can help us solve this problem?" B. "Why does the problem need to be resolved?" C. "What are the causes of the problem?" D. "We could take the bus instead of driving our own cars."

Q: Which of the following reports would most likely be written using a formal writing style? a. A routine report about the progress a task force is making b. A research report about consumer trends written by a consultant for his client c. A summary report written to your supervisor about a conference you attended d. A short summary written for your boss of an article you read

Q: Tina will carefully document her sources in a report she must submit to her boss to protect herself from plagiarizing. What other purpose will her documentation serve? a. Ensuring her boss's agreement with her recommendations. b. Allowing her to submit the report electronically rather than in print. c. Saving time by borrowing others' words and ideas. d. Showing that she has collaborated effectively in writing the report.

Q: The first four steps of the reflective thinking sequence, in order, are: A. define the problem; analyze the problem; establish criteria for a solution; generate possible solutions to the problem. B. brainstorm solutions; analyze and decide on a solution; implement the best solution; follow up on the solution. C. forming; storming; norming; performing. D. orientation; conflict; emergence; reinforcement.

Q: Which of the following statements about paraphrasing is most accurate? a. Paraphrasing involves restating an original passage in your own words and in your own style. b. Paraphrasing involves presenting ideas from another source using the exact wording of the original source. c. Paraphrasing involves presenting ideas from another source without documentation. d. Paraphrasing requires the report writer to use the same grammatical structure as the original author when presenting another's ideas.

Q: Which of the following does NOT describe the reflective thinking sequence? A. a seven-step process B. developed by John Dewey C. a systematic way to solve problems D. a meditation practice that is proven to improve communication

Q: The purpose of business reports is to convey information, answer questions, and ________. a. generate new business b. recruit employees c. solve problems d. start conversations

Q: When a group uses the nominal group technique (NGT) method A. ideas, along with their authors, are posted for all to see. B. evaluation of ideas is conducted orally. C. each member privately rank-orders the ideas that have been posted. D. the final decision is made by majority rule.

Q: _______ display complex information quickly and clearly and are easier to understand than written text. a. PDF documents b. Slide decks c. Manuscripts d. Infographics

Q: Nominal group technique (NGT) is a method designed to A. end meetings on time. B. prevent democratic leadership. C. generate many high-quality suggestions. D. enforce Robert's Rules of Order in meetings.

Q: Which of the following situations would most likely require observation or scientific experimentation? a. You want to find out what tools are available to protect your computer network from hackers. b. You need to determine the average time it takes your employees to produce a single piece of furniture. c. You must find out which ten companies ranked highest for customer service in 2014. d. You want to verify your supervisor's opinion on upgrading your department's accounting software.

Q: Which is NOT a cardinal rule for brainstorming? A. Don't follow a set speaking order. B. Strive for quantity. C. Avoid evaluating ideas. D. Let the boss speak first.

Q: ________ are visual representations of data or information. They can display complex information quickly and clearly and are easier to understand than written text. a. PDF files b. Digital slide decks c. Templates d. Infographics

Q: Which of the following describes the brainstorming process? A. Focus on quantity, not quality, of ideas. B. Briefly evaluate each idea as soon as it's stated. C. Discard ideas that don't meet with instant approval from all group members. D. Do not combine ideas.

Q: Which of the following sentences uses the best writing style for a formal report? a. After checking several references, the company decided to hire the consulting firm of Anderson, Williams, and Pardee. b. After considerable research, weve decided to order the Aptura computer from ISB for our office staff. c. I conducted extensive research that shows companies are recognizing the benefits of telecommuting. d. My personal opinion is that we should implement the new tracking system at once.

Q: All the following methods can help improve performance during the storming phase EXCEPT: A. Ask members to explain why others' ideas are useful. B. Support the expression of different viewpoints. C. Seek to gain as much personal influence as you can. D. Openly discuss the group's process for solving problems.

Q: Which of the following represents the best phrasing for a survey question? a. How do you feel about a flat-rate income tax? b. Do you approve of a flat-rate income tax? c. What benefits do you feel a flat-rate income tax will offer? d. Why are you in favor of a flat-rate income tax?

Q: A member can help improve the group's performance during the norming phase of group problem solving by A. trying to gain a lot of influence in the group. B. clarifying members' tasks, roles, and responsibilities. C. challenging the designated leader. D. save time by discussing issues superficially.

Q: Evan is evaluating a website before using it as a source for his business report. In checking when the site was last updated, he is evaluating its ________. a. currency b. authority c. content d. accuracy

Q: In which of the following situations should the indirect pattern of organization be used for a business report? a. When readers are familiar with the topic b. When readers must be educated about the topic c. When readers are supportive of the topic d. When you know that readers want the conclusions and recommendations up front

Q: In Fisher's stages of group problem solving, the phase during which members end disagreement and solve the problem is called the _________ phase. A. orientation B. conflict C. emergence D. reinforcement

Q: Which of the following is an effective question to use in a survey? a. Don't you agree that teachers are extremely deserving of a 7 percent pay increase because of the valuable services they provide for our community? b. Do teachers deserve a 7 percent pay increase? c. Should teachers accept a 7 percent pay increase, or should they go on strike? d. Do teachers, one of the hardest-working and least-respected segments of American society, deserve a 7 percent pay increase?

Q: According to Fisher's stages of group problem solving, some groups never move beyond the conflict stage. This could occur for any of the following reasons EXCEPT: A. Members end their disagreement by finding a mutually acceptable solution. B. A majority overrules the minority without taking time to adapt to any of their interests. C. Time runs out, so a quick decision is made that no one really likes. D. The manager ends up making the decision.

Q: To help you understand the problem or assignment clearly when writing a complex report, prepare a written ________ to clarify the task. a. statement of purpose b. executive summary c. problem statement d. audience analysis

Q: Action items should include all the following EXCEPT A. a specific task to be accomplished B. indicate the person responsible for accomplishing the task C. specify the deadline D. outline pros and cons concerning whether this task is worthwhile or not

Q: In asking himself How can I make this information readable, believable, and memorable? for a report he is writing, Joaquin is focusing on his _______. a. purpose b. work plan c. research d. audience

Q: An effective set of minutes should have all the following characteristics EXCEPT A. be written concisely B. show a detailed account of each speaker's opinions C. present a record of specific action items D. include enough information that someone who was not at the meeting can learn what was discussed and what decisions were made

Q: Preparing a(n) _______ for your report helps you set priorities, determine a course of action, and establish a schedule. a. outline b. work plan c. rough draft d. template

Q: Post-meeting follow-up activities should include all the following EXCEPT A. chastising members who were not present at the last meeting. B. building an agenda for the next meeting. C. checking to see if assigned tasks are being performed D. completing your own preparation for the next meeting.

Q: Which of the following statements about business reports is most accurate? a. The larger an organization, the more vital the exchange and flow of information becomes. b. Reports are prepared for internal readers, not external readers. c. To be considered a business report, a document must be in writing. d. To be considered a business report, the document must be at least ten pages in length.

Q: Which is the recommended approach for concluding a meeting? A. Use a buzzer to indicate that the meeting has ended. B. Hand out an agenda for the next meeting. C. Acknowledge your accomplishments as the group's leader. D. Point out that the meeting is close to completion, summarize the group's accomplishments, outline future actions, and thank members for having attended.

Q: Google, Bing, Yahoo Search, and Ask are examples of ________. a. search tools b. Web browsers c. electronic databases d. periodicals