Q&A Hero

Q: As the workplace and world become more technological, the need for human communication skills is diminished.

Q: Ildiko is a low-context communicator. She is likely to value membership in organizations, groups, and teams. a. True b. False

Q: Communication skills are important in people-oriented careers but not in high-tech jobs.

Q: In low-power-distance countries, subordinates expect formal hierarchies and embrace relatively authoritarian, paternalistic power relationships. a. True b. False

Q: Jordan had planned to deliver a persuasive speech encouraging his classmates to buy Hummers so they could be "cool." After researching his topic, however, Jordan decided to encourage his classmates to use public transit instead, because he felt that this choice would help reduce U.S. dependency on oil and contribute to bluer skies for future generations. When Jordan chooses communication intended to bring the greatest good to the greatest number of people over time, he is using the _______________ principle of ethical communication. A. Professional Ethic B. Utilitarian Approach C. Justice Approach D. Publicity Test

Q: Learning more about the powerful effect that culture has on behavior will help you reduce friction and misunderstanding in your dealings with people from other cultures. a. True b. False

Q: Glass ceiling refers to an invisible barrier of attitudes, prejudices, and old boy networks blocking them from reaching important corporate positions. a. True b. False

Q: Dmitri doesn't like Val, one of his co-workers. Dmitri started to send an e-mail to his workgroup, falsely accusing Val of stealing company supplies. Before clicking "Send," Dmitri re-read his message. He decided to delete the message instead of sending it, fearing that his work team members might consider his e-mail to be inappropriate. Which ethical consideration did Dmitri use in his decision to behave in a principled manner? A. Publicity Test B. Common Good approach C. Professional Ethic D. Utilitarian approach

Q: The number of foreign-born persons in the United States is decreasing. a. True b. False

Q: The utilitarian approach to communication ethics considers communication to be ethical if A. you treat others as you would want to be treated. B. you would be judged as ethical by a board of your professional peers. C. you would be judged as ethical by the public if it appeared on a prime-time broadcast. D. an act brings good to a majority of people over time.

Q: Nonverbal behavior, such as using the "thumbs up" hand gesture, is universal, conveying the same meaning in all cultures. a. True b. False

Q: One rule that should guide a mentoring relationship is: A. A woman should not seek a mentor because it may create the impression that she lacks confidence. B. Ask your mentor to help you when you are seeking promotion. C. Build an empathic relationship with your mentor by sharing personal information. D. If your mentor shares personal insights with you, keep them confidential.

Q: Social media are not effective intercultural communication tools because they only reinforce cultural differences. a. True b. False

Q: All of the following methods are recommended for cultivating personal networks except A. express appreciation when others give you helpful information. B. put people in touch who might benefit from knowing one another. C. gather secondary referrals from your personal acquaintances. D. trust only those employees who have been in the organization for a long time and who hold positions higher than yours.

Q: Yung is a high-context communicator. He is likely to use spiral logic when thinking and making decisions. a. True b. False

Q: If you want to cultivate your informal networks in an organization, you should A. treat people at all levels of the organization with gratitude and respect. B. nurture friendships primarily with those who are in top management positions. C. guard your expertise by keeping valuable information to yourself. D. impress your coworkers by describing how you were able to gain some special privileges.

Q: Members of high-context cultures are more likely to be logical, analytical, and action oriented. a. True b. False

Q: Networking refers to A. tennis tournaments run by the organization. B. developing contacts to gain career information and to help others in their careers. C. paying more attention to your boss than to your administrative assistant. D. comparing several software programs and selecting the best one.

Q: Business communicators in low-context cultures, such as the United States and Germany, assume that messages must be explicit; communicators rely exclusively on the written or spoken word. a. True b. False

Q: Chip was hired as a sales rep for a multinational company and will be selling computer products around the world. He should learn and use the metric system. a. True b. False

Q: Communication through informal networks in an organization A. is slower than communication through formal communication networks. B. is always less dependable than communication through formal channels. C. sometimes contradicts information received through formal networks. D. hinders innovation.

Q: The CEO has promised all employees a 5% raise next year if they will forego a raise this year. The CEO's administrative assistant tells you during a coffee break that there will probably be no raise next year either, despite the CEO's promises. The assistant's words illustrate the __________ function of informal communication. A. contradicting B. confirming C. expediting D. circumscribing

Q: Indicate whether the statement is true or false.Brooke, who works for a U.S. company, has just been assigned to manage the company's division in Vietnam. She should emphasize team-based projects and group decision making with her new employees.a. Trueb. False

Q: List and describe five techniques for improving written communication to intercultural audiences.

Q: Maria and Adnan work in different departments of the same company. They discovered that it was much quicker to e-mail each other for information they needed from each other's departments than to wait for the official company newsletter to arrive. This is an example of the __________ function of informal communication. A. confirming B. expanding C. expediting D. contradicting

Q: Informal communication includes all of the following except A. the grapevine. B. a comment about your boss that you overhear as you walk down the hall. C. performance appraisals. D. conversations around the water cooler.

Q: Explain the advantages and challenges of workplace diversity, including the specific ways that consumers, work teams, and business organizations benefit from more diverse workplaces.

Q: List and describe three factors that have led to increased globalization.

Q: The owner of a small car dealership wanted to find a way to discourage the amount of horizontal communication that was occurring among salesmen because he (mistakenly) thought their conversations were reducing the company's sales levels. He implemented a bonus plan that required sales personnel to compete against one another to keep their jobs. In the above example, which of the following forms of discouragement is the owner using to limit horizontal communication at his company? A. rivalry B. specialization C. information overload D. physical barriers

Q: All of the following elements discourage effective horizontal communication EXCEPT A. information overload. B. physical barriers. C. rivalry. D. cross-training employees in several areas.

Q: Culture is a powerful operating force that conditions the way we think and behave. To be successful in the global economy, it's important to understand the basic characteristics of culture so that we can make adjustments and adopt new attitudes. List and describe three basic characteristics of culture.

Q: Employees who feel free to express dissenting ideas to their bosses without fear of reprimand are often more _________________ than those who do not feel free to express dissent. A. satisfied B. dissatisfied C. ornery D. complacent

Q: An important goal when making ethical decisions abroad should be to acknowledge different values but also emphasize moral initiative. Identify and describe four strategies to help with the cultural challenges of global business interaction.

Q: A subordinate makes suggestions to her supervisor about ways to improve work conditions. This is an example of A. downward communication. B. social communication. C. horizontal communication. D. upward communication.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Diversity makes an organization innovative and creative. Conversely, sameness fosters an absence of critical thinking, also known as _______.

Q: An open-door policy and suggestion boxes are examples of ways to encourage A. upward communication. B. downward communication. C. lateral communication. D. horizontal communication.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: The World ________ Organization promotes open trade and the reduction of trade barriers globally.

Q: Upward communication A. may be risky for employees. B. usually involves criticism. C. is avoided by effective managers. D. is usually open and honest.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: ________ refers to the stimuli, environment, or ambiance surrounding an event. It is probably the most important cultural dimension and is also the most difficult to define.

Q: Three nurses from the evening shift at the Holy Heart Hospital told their supervisor their ideas for some new procedures that would improve the way patients' needs are tracked. The supervisor listened to the nurses' suggestions and implemented them. The nurses' suggestions illustrate A. downward communication. B. upward communication. C. horizontal communication. D. inappropriate communication.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: A(n) ________ is a stereotype that has developed into a rigid attitude and that is based on erroneous beliefs or preconceptions.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Low-context communicators tend to use ________ logic to reach conclusions. That is, they proceed from Point A to Point B to Point C and finally arrive at a conclusion.

Q: The text suggests all of the following as ways to gain recognition from your boss except A. tell the boss that you deserve most of the credit when the project was actually a team creation. B. have your ideas printed in the company newsletter. C. thank coworkers who help you with projects. D. present creative proposals to your boss.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: A trend known as _______ nationalism refers to the vast global differences in Internet access, including harsh restrictions in authoritarian countries.

Q: Effective downward communication A. can be used to give employees feedback about their performance. B. is unnecessary when things are running well in an organization. C. is delivered too frequently by most managers. D. takes very little time or effort.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: The belief in the superiority of one's own race is known as ________.

Q: Which of the following is NOT an example of downward communication? A. A supervisor explains to an employee why a new set of procedures is being implemented. B. An employee talks to a coworker in a sneering tone of voice. C. The CEO of a company presents a motivational speech to all the sales representatives. D. The HR manager gives a presentation to her staff about a new procedure.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: ________ in the workplace has many dimensions, including race, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, national origin, physical ability, and sexual orientation.

Q: Formal communication networks in organizations can be described by all of the following EXCEPT: A. information sent through formal networks tends to be believed less than information heard through informal networks. B. formal networks embody management's idea of who ought to communicate to whom on the job. C. formal networks are workplace communication flow as described in organizational charts. D. formal networks are the most rapid form of communication in an organization.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Communicators in ________ -context cultures, such as those in North America, Scandinavia, and Germany, tend to be logical, analytical, and action oriented. They stress clearly articulated messages that they consider to be objective, professional, and efficient.

Q: The definition for a formal communication network is A. a system designed by management that determines who talks to whom to get a job done. B. management by walking around. C. downward communication. D. interacting with people who share your career interests.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: To improve tolerance, you will want to practice _______, which means trying to see the world through anothers eyes.

Q: Which of the following is true about the role of communication networks in organizations? A. Small organizations do not have any formal communication networks. B. All organizations use the same type of formal communication structure. C. Formal communication networks are designed by management. D. A communication network eliminates the presence of conflicting information in an organization.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: One process for achieving intercultural competence is ________ , which refers to the use of concrete and specific feedback.

Q: Instant messaging (IM) is a good choice for communicating messages when A. you don't want to leave a permanent record of your communication. B. you want to multitask and send messages while attending an important meeting. C. you are sending a short, non-confrontational message to someone who is available to communicate with you at that moment. D. you need to finish a delicate conversation that was interrupted the day before.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Saving ________ is a primary motivator in business dealings in high-context cultures and involves preserving social harmony.

Q: Instant messaging (IM) A. is an effective medium for sending confrontational messages. B. requires us to pay attention to specific politeness norms, such as asking "How are you?" before we begin our conversation. C. is a very rich communication channel. D. works well for short messages, but is rarely effective for complex conversations.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: ________ may be defined as the complex system of values, traits, morals, and customs shared by a society.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a guideline for voice mail etiquette? A. Plan your message in advance so you won't ramble. B. Leave a message that contains as much detail as possible so the receiver won't have to call you back for clarification. C. State your name and phone number near the beginning of the message so the receiver won't have to replay the entire message to hear your number repeated. D. Leave both your first and last name in the message unless the receiver knows you very well. E. Speak slowly and clearly so the recipient can take accurate notes on your message.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: Most important in achieving effective communication is _______. This attitude requires us to engage positively with head nods, eye contact, facial expressions, and physical proximity.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a suggested guideline for using cell phones? A. Give your cell phone priority over face-to-face conversations; the person you are with can wait while you answer your phone. B. If you receive a call from a very important client while you are in a meeting, excuse yourself from the meeting to answer the call. C. Avoid selecting an irritating ring such as a repetitive song. D. Refrain from using your cell phone in public places where others may be forced to overhear you, such as a classroom.

Q: One significant characteristic of e-mail is that A. it is a synchronous form of communication. B. it can become a drain on your productivity. C. it has been shown to impair personal relationships on the job. D. you can enhance your "human touch" at work by refusing to use e-mail.

Q: When management chooses a written format to communicate a decision to employees, an important characteristic of the written message is that A. there is no legal record of the communication. B. there is a permanent record of the message. C. it provides a forum for discussing management decisions. D. it is easy to improvise when using written communication.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: One way to improve your communication with those from other cultures is to use _______ English, which refers to speaking and writing in short sentences using simple words and avoiding puns, slang, and other terms that are not easily translated.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: The term ________ is used to describe mental representations based on general characteristics that are not fixed and rigid, but rather are open to new definitions.

Q: You should choose written communication in preference to other channels when A. you want to ponder each word before you send it out, to decrease your chance of making errors. B. the situation requires a personal touch. C. you want to save time. D. there is a need for immediate feedback.

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: High-context communicators tend to use ________ logic to reach conclusions. That is, they circle around a topic indirectly and look at it from many tangential or divergent viewpoints.

Q: Which type of communication should be used if you are presenting ideas when you need to gather instantaneous feedback? A. written communication B. voice mail C. teleconferencing D. face-to-face communication

Q: Fill in the blank in the following sentence: A(n) ________ is an oversimplified behavioral pattern applied uncritically to groups.

Q: The channel of communication recommended for messages of a highly personal nature is A. e-mail. B. oral communication. C. a formal letter. D. instant messaging.

Q: Which of the following is a disadvantage of using face-to-face communication over other communication channels? A. There is lag time between transmission and reception of the message. B. Face-to-face communication reduces your ability to hold the receiver's attention. C. It is often difficult to schedule a time to meet face-to-face. D. It is more difficult to develop effective relationships with individuals when you use face-to-face communication.

Q: Which of the following statements is most accurate about our global economy?a. Recent trade skirmishes over tariffs have forced the once-global economy into being more localized.b. Many familiar U.S chains are now operating overseas.c. Learning more about the powerful effect culture has on behavior will be possible only if you travel abroad.d. There is no way to avoid increased misunderstandings and tensions in your dealings with people who are not like you.

Q: The channel of communication that has the highest level of nonverbal "richness" is A. face-to-face communication. B. instant messaging. C. voice mail. D. snail mail.

Q: In conversation with a Korean businessperson who speaks English fairly well, Meaghan discovers that much of what she has just said was not understood by the Korean. In continuing the conversation, Meaghan should _______. a. speak more slowly and loudly. b. discontinue the conversation until an interpreter can be found. c. keep a stern, unsmiling face to show she's serious about the conversation. d. accept blame for the misunderstanding and use simpler language.

Q: Richard works for a small local newspaper as the advertising manager. Richard thinks he has been giving his subordinates plenty of encouragement because he says "thank you" when they turn in their projects. However, Richard has just discovered that most of his subordinates think Richard isn't providing enough praise and encouragement. This example illustrates that A. meaning resides in the words of the sender. B. the verbal channel is fatally flawed. C. there is no guarantee that a message will be understood as the sender intended. D. Richard is a good supervisor.

Q: Businesspeople from which country are most likely to be uncomfortable with silence and impatient with delays? a. Mexico b. United States c. Saudi Arabia d. Japan

Q: The cultural context of a conversation refers to the impact of A. generational differences. B. geographical location. C. national backgrounds of the speakers. D. All of these comprise the cultural context of a conversation.

Q: Jake is working for a global consulting firm and will be writing letters to intercultural audiences around the world. What is the best advice you can give him? a. Always use a direct approach to make your letters as clear as possible. b. Use your own format and style so that all your letters are consistent. c. Send letters to lower-ranking employees to avoid offending higher-ranking employees. d. Replace two-word verbs such as put off with clear single words such as delay.

Q: The chronological context of a conversation refers to A. the time of day or time of year when you are communicating. B. communicating at the workplace cafeteria. C. communicating with someone older than you. D. communication practices in Latino cultures.

Q: Which of the following is an invisible sign of culture? a. An attorney wears a conservative suit to court. b. Christopher believes that adults need to be responsible for their actions. c. On their anniversary Matthew takes his wife to dinner. d. At every department meeting, the manager sits at the head of the conference table.