Chapter 16 Communicating in Organizations Answer Key
Multiple Choice Questions
1.
____________ communication refers to the interactions that occur within structured groups.
A.
Small group
B.
Organizational
C.
Interpersonal
D.
Cultural
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-01 Define organization communication.
Topic: Organizational Communication
2.
Communication that occurs within groups such as colleges, companies, sports teams,
religious institutions, or neighborhood watch groups would be considered
A.
B.
intrapersonal.
C.
small group.
D.
organizational.
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-01 Define organization communication.
Topic: Organizational Communication
3.
Kyle works for a large biotechnology firm. He knows that he is expected to work more than 60
hours per week, to take minimal lunch breaks, and to work most nights and weekends. In the
lunchroom, there is very little interaction between employees, and Kyle does not fraternize
with his coworkers outside of the workplace. Although Kyle normally is an easygoing and
friendly person, he would most likely feel pressure to conform to the organizational
_________________ of the firm.
A.
culture
B.
values
C.
system
D.
power structure
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-02 Understand the structure and culture of organizations.
Topic: Organizational Culture
4.
Which of the following is generally NOT a way to understand an organization’s culture?
A.
stories
B.
rules
C.
regulations
D.
structure
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-02 Understand the structure and culture of organizations.
Topic: Organizational Culture
5.
Which of the following is NOT a question you can use to understand an organization’s
structure?
A.
How does the organization interact with its environment?
B.
How hierarchical is the organization?
C.
How friendly are the participants in the organization?
D.
How centralized is the power in the organization?
Type of question: Analyze
6.
Josh works for a large, multinational corporation. He has some new ideas for the product his
department markets. To share his ideas, he must first share it with his assistant manager,
who then meets with the department head. The department head in turn will have to meet
with the division chair, who can take it to the marketing committee for a decision. Josh’s
company, like many organizations, is a
A.
hierarchy.
B.
closed system.
C.
bureaucracy.
D.
diffused power structure.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 16-02 Understand the structure and culture of organizations.
Topic: Organizational Structure
7.
Grand Bank has a company president and board of directors that hold the majority of power
and decision-making ability, so Grand Bank has a(n) ____________ power structure.
A.
open
B.
closed
C.
centralized
D.
hierarchical
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-02 Understand the structure and culture of organizations.
Topic: Organizational Structure
8.
Liselle works for her city’s Chamber of Commerce. As part of her job, she works with other
city agencies, local businesses, media outlets, and benefactors. She is expected to
communicate and share information with these individuals and groups because the Chamber
of Commerce’s organizational system is
A.
closed.
B.
centralized.
C.
diffused.
D.
open.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 16-02 Understand the structure and culture of organizations.
Topic: Organizational Structure
9.
Organizational ___________ are ceremonial acts and practices that convey characteristics of
an organization’s culture.
A.
rituals
B.
rites
C.
norms
D.
values
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-03 Distinguish rites and rituals of organizational cultures.
Topic: Organizational Rites
10.
Which of the following is NOT a type of organizational rite?
A.
conflict resolution
B.
passage
C.
interaction
D.
blaming
Type of question: Analyze
11.
Lisa’s synagogue was not able to raise enough revenue during the fiscal year and has had to
cut many staff positions and activities for the congregation. Several families have left the
close-knit community as well because of financial issues. In order to revitalize its members,
the synagogue plans a weekend retreat to help congregants brainstorm ways to boost
membership. This retreat would be best described as a ___________ rite.
A.
renewal
B.
conflict resolution
C.
blaming
D.
enhancement
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 16-03 Distinguish rites and rituals of organizational cultures.
Topic: Organizational Rites
12.
When you participate in a commencement ceremony at your college, you are participating in
a(n)
A.
rite of integration.
B.
renewal rite.
C.
rite of passage.
D.
enhancement rite.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-03 Distinguish rites and rituals of organizational cultures.
Topic: Organizational Rites
13.
Organizational _________ are repeated behaviors that provide a familiar routine to an
organization’s experiences.
A.
rites
B.
roles
C.
rules
D.
rituals
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-03 Distinguish rites and rituals of organizational cultures.
Topic: Organizational Rituals
14.
Grayson works in the technology department at a large nonprofit agency. Every Friday night,
he participates in a company softball league, and after every game, he and his coworkers go
out for drinks. Grayson and his coworkers are participating in what type of organizational
ritual?
A.
task
B.
social
C.
personal
D.
collegial
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-03 Distinguish rites and rituals of organizational cultures.
Topic: Organizational Rituals
15.
If you engage in a series of ritualized activities that enhances your ability to do your job, you
are using what type of organizational rituals?
A.
social
B.
personal
C.
integration
D.
task
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-03 Distinguish rites and rituals of organizational cultures.
Topic: Organizational Rituals
16.
Seriah has been a member of the honor society at her college for one year. She’s always
participated in the club’s service projects, but at a local road clean–up, she notices that the
other students seem close to one another. She feels left out, especially when they keep
referencing the Saturday night study group that she usually skips. When she realizes that this
study group is what is drawing the other members closer to one another, what type of ritual
does Seriah most likely need to evaluate if she wants to feel included?
A.
social
B.
interpersonal
C.
integration
D.
personal
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 16-03 Distinguish rites and rituals of organizational cultures.
Topic: Organizational Rituals
17.
In November 2009, Tareq and Michaele Salahi were able to sneak into an official state dinner
at the White House, even though they were not invited. The government agency charged with
the event’s security was the Secret Service, and it was later determined that an official had let
the couple though an initial checkpoint despite the lack of an invitation and a proper
screening. In this case, it seems that the official did not follow that agency’s explicit
organizational _________ for the situation.
A.
rituals
B.
standards
C.
rules
D.
rites
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 16-04 Summarize the rules and roles of organizational interactions.
Topic: Rules of Organizational Interactions
18.
Even if employees claim to understand an __________ organizational rule, they may not
necessarily respond positively to it, as evidenced by employees’ negative perception of
managers that closely monitor e-mail in the workplace.
A.
explicit
B.
implicit
C.
implied
D.
elicit
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-04 Summarize the rules and roles of organizational interactions.
Topic: Rules of Organizational Interactions
19.
An employee who signs a nondisclosure agreement with a company in a highly competitive
field is agreeing to abide by an organizational
A.
standard.
B.
rite.
C.
ritual.
D.
rule.
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-04 Summarize the rules and roles of organizational interactions.
Topic: Rules of Organizational Interactions
20.
An ________ organizational rule is understood and followed even though it isn’t formally
articulated.
A.
explicit
B.
implicit
C.
implied
D.
unspoken
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-04 Summarize the rules and roles of organizational interactions.
Topic: Rules of Organizational Interactions
21.
_________ roles involve functions prescribed by the organization itself.
A.
Informal
B.
Functional
C.
Formal
D.
Personnel
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-04 Summarize the rules and roles of organizational interactions.
Topic: Roles of Organizational Interactions
22.
An organizational chart specifies the _________ connection between roles in a company.
A.
formal
B.
explicit
C.
informal
D.
implicit
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-04 Summarize the rules and roles of organizational interactions.
Topic: Roles of Organizational Interactions
23.
Which of the following is a type of informal role in an organization?
A.
company comedian
B.
quality control technician
C.
director of marketing
D.
assistant manager
Type of question: Analyze
24.
Tyrese believes that his job is much easier if he gets along with his coworkers. To that end, he
organizes frequent game nights at his house for his colleagues, and he is sure to eat lunch
with different coworkers every day. Over time, Tyrese’s colleagues will most likely come to
depend on his _______ role as a social event organizer.
A.
implicit
B.
explicit
C.
formal
D.
informal
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-04 Summarize the rules and roles of organizational interactions.
Topic: Roles of Organizational Interactions
25.
Which of the following is NOT a type of story used to affirm organizational identity?
A.
collegial
B.
integral
C.
personal
D.
corporate
Type of question: Analyze
26.
Most fans of Apple know the ________ story of how the cofounders Steve Jobs and Steve
Wozniak assembled the first Apple computer in Jobs’s garage.
A.
collegial
B.
anecdotal
C.
corporate
D.
personal
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-05 Develop roles of storytelling within organizations.
Topic: Storytelling in Organizations
27.
________________ stories reflect both how people see themselves and how they want others to
see them.
A.
Collegial
B.
Personal
C.
Humorous
D.
Self-concept
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-05 Develop roles of storytelling within organizations.
Topic: Storytelling in Organizations
28.
To highlight your creativity, you tell your coworkers about the time you won first prize in a
poetry contest; you are telling a ________________ story.
A.
corporate
B.
collegial
C.
workplace
D.
personal
AACSB: Knowledge Application
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-05 Develop roles of storytelling within organizations.
Topic: Storytelling in Organizations
29.
__________stories aren’t merely gossip; they help identify organizational members’ positive
and negative attributes to others in the organization.
A.
Corporate
B.
Personal
C.
Collegial
D.
Informative
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-05 Develop roles of storytelling within organizations.
Topic: Storytelling in Organizations
30.
Chris is transferred to another location for the party supply chain that employs him. He is
unsure of his new manager and doesn’t know how she feels about her sales staff. What type
of stories would most likely help Chris get ideas about how to interact with his new manager?
A.
collegial
B.
corporate
C.
gossip
D.
personal
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 16-05 Develop roles of storytelling within organizations.
Topic: Storytelling in Organizations
31.
Because many organizations are complex systems that simultaneously engage in multiple
tasks and pursue multiple goals, one approach to organizational ___________ won’t necessarily
fit every organization or situation.
A.
rituals
B.
rites
C.
communication
D.
information
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Understand
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-06 Define organizational communication models.
Topic: Organizational Communication Models
32.
According to the _________________ model, organizational communication is seen as a pipeline
through which information flows from one source to another.
A.
transactional
B.
information-transfer
C.
strategic control
D.
structure
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Remember
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-06 Define organizational communication models.
Topic: Organizational Communication Models
33.
The information-transfer approach to organizational communication most closely resembles
which model of communication?
A.
transaction
B.
reaction
C.
interaction
D.
action
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Analyze
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 16-06 Define organizational communication models.
Topic: Organizational Communication Models
34.
At a college located on the coast of North Carolina, the president e-mails his 528 employees
with instructions about hurricane warnings and watches. He feels that he is very specific as to
when his employees should come to campus and when they should stay home. To his
surprise, he notices that during the first hurricane watch, many employees do not report to
work, even though the president thought he had clearly explained that they should come to
work in that event. Because he sent the information out to his employees with the
understanding that he was not open to feedback or questions, this _________ approach to
organizational communication was not effective.
A.
strategic
B.
transactional
C.
information-transfer
D.
interactional
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Evaluate
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 16-06 Define organizational communication models.
Topic: Organizational Communication Models
35.
If you nod, smile, and offer other positive nonverbal feedback while your club president is
outlining plans for an upcoming fund-raiser, you are engaging in what approach to
organizational communication?
A.
transactional
B.
information-transfer
C.
strategic control
D.
interactional
AACSB: Communication
Accessibility: Keyboard Navigation
Bloom’s: Apply
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 16-06 Define organizational communication models.
Topic: Organizational Communication