48) Peter is working on a project. He feels that the parameters need to be changed to meet client
specifications. First, he must talk to his immediate supervisor, who will then discuss the issue
with her department director before any change can be implemented. Peter is most likely to be a
part of the ________ type of small-group communication networks.
A) star network
B) mesh network
C) chain network
D) all-channel network
E) ring network
49) The ________ network is a type of formal small-group network that relies on a central figure
to act as the conduit for all the group’s communication.
A) matrix
B) chain
C) wheel
D) all channel
E) cross-functional
50) Carol Zelner, the manager of a small event management company, is known for her
efficiency. She provides the team with clearly defined tasks, guidelines, and directives. Further,
she is always available to provide feedback or resolve troubles. Recently, with Carol on leave for
about three weeks, the team had a lot of problems. The team members lacked the requisite
information on client details, locations, and budgets and had to repeatedly cross-check with each
other or the clients. Which of the following, if true, would best explain the problems faced by
Carol’s team currently?
A) Members of Carol’s team have a high degree of satisfaction with their role in the team’s
communication.
B) Carol selects employees for her company by evaluating their personality traits to ensure that
they fit well into the team-based environment of the company.
C) Carol encourages all group members to actively communicate with each other.
D) Carol’s team primarily consists of individuals from low-context cultures.
E) The communication in Carol’s team follows the approach represented by a wheel network.
51) The ________ network is a type of formal small-group network that permits the entire group
to actively communicate with each other.
A) matrix
B) virtual
C) wheel
D) chain
E) all-channel
52) The all-channel network is practiced most commonly in ________.
A) traditional teams
B) self-managed teams
C) cross-functional teams
D) problem-solving groups
E) work groups
53) Ideally, a chain network should be used when ________.
A) high speed of information transfer is desired
B) accuracy of information is most important
C) the network is expected to facilitate emergence of a leader
D) high member satisfaction is desired
E) the teams using the chain network are self-managed teams
54) The criteria of member satisfaction is best met by the ________ type of formal small-group
network.
A) hierarchical
B) wheel
C) chain
D) traditional
E) all-channel
55) Which of the following represents the informal communication network in an organization?
A) feedback loop
B) grapevine
C) chain network
D) all-channel network
E) wheel network
56) The informal communication network in an organization is ________.
A) determined by organization
B) based on clear and factual information
C) rooted in issues of minimal importance to employees
D) characterized by ambiguity
E) controlled by the management
57) As a consequence of the information circulated by the grapevine in an organization,
employees experience ________.
A) increased clarity
B) increased power
C) increased member satisfaction
D) increased certainty
E) increased anxiety
58) Which of the following is a desirable strategy for managers aiming to reduce the negative
consequences of rumors?
A) initiating disciplinary action against the employee who started the rumor
B) refusing to comment on issues that appear to be controversial and unfair
C) creating a more informal communication environment at the workplace
D) encouraging employees to communicate their concerns and suggestions
E) ignoring the rumor as rumors grow because of the attention given to them
59) Communicating through e-mail provides ________.
A) a host of nonverbal cues to understand the message better
B) the best means to convey negative information
C) a cheaper alternative to the conventional communication through letters
D) a secure communication link that nobody else can access
E) an option to hold real-time meetings with people in different locations
60) Which of the following is a recommendation to effectively manage e-mail?
A) check e-mail every morning
B) do not declare e-mail bankruptcy
C) check e-mails in batches
D) reserve e-mail for communicating negative messages
E) merge the use of the company and personal e-mail accounts
61) When you need to gauge the receptivity of a recipient, which type of communication is best?
A) Twitter
B) e-mail
C) traditional letters
D) social media
E) oral communication
62) Which of the following types of electronic communications is preferable for one- or two-line
messages?
A) blogs
B) video conferencing
C) instant messaging
D) grapevine
E) e-mails
63) Which of following is true regarding text messaging?
A) They represent the best means to communicate long messages that must be archived.
B) The guidelines for business use of texting are still evolving.
C) They represent a secure mode of communication that cannot be intercepted.
D) Instant messaging is not dependent on the availability of Internet or computers.
E) Text messaging is transmitted primarily via computers.
64) Which of the following is true regarding social networking?
A) Individuals between ten and eighteen years of age are the fastest growing group of users of
Facebook.
B) Many organizations have developed their own in-house social networking applications.
C) The use of social networking sites eliminates cyber loafing at work.
D) Social networking sites are primarily for interpersonal communication and have no business-
related uses.
E) Social networking is a protected activity that cannot be intercepted.
65) E-Way is an electronics company that is developing a new cellphone that will be released in
the market soon. Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the argument that the
company should use social media to promote the new cellphone?
A) E-Way’s last two releases received a lot of criticism from consumers.
B) One of E-Way’s rival companies had used social media unsuccessfully to advertise its new
product.
C) The production team overshot the budget and the marketing team has low funds.
D) The target consumers for the cellphone are not restricted to any demographic category.
E) The company has a tightly integrated production and distribution mechanism.
66) A(n) ________ is a Web site about a single person or company.
A) e-mail account
B) social networking site
C) blog
D) instant messaging portal
E) file transfer protocol
67) ________ is a condition in which information inflow exceeds an individual’s processing
capacity.
A) Information scarcity
B) Information richness
C) Information architecture
D) Information inequity
E) Information overload
68) Rumors are characterized by clarity and verifiability.
69) Facebook is a hybrid social networking service that allows users to post microblog entries or
tweets to their subscribers about any topic, including work.
70) 65% of all remote meetings are done via audio only.
71) Social networking is not tool for prospective employees, hiring managers, employees, and
human resource divisions.
72) The exchange given through oral communication has social, cultural, and emotional
components.
73) Discuss the use of text messaging in business settings. What are the advantages of this
method of communication? What are its drawbacks?
74) Discuss the three common small-group networks. Evaluate each on their effectiveness. Is
there any one best network?
75) Janice is a part of a work team comprised of five members. Explain the various ways in
which this team may be organized and how it would impact the team’s communication.
76) How would you relate the concepts of wheel network and information overload?
77) Explain how the grapevine functions and why it exists in organizational communication.
78) What are the benefits and drawbacks of e-mail?
79) Which of the following communication channels provides the highest information richness?
A) e-mail
B) face-to-face conversations
C) online group discussions
D) voice mail
E) memos and letters
80) Which of the following communication channels provides the lowest information richness?
A) online group discussions
B) face-to-face conversations
C) telephone conversations
D) voice mail
E) reports and bulletins
81) When the middle-level manager of the production department at Wilson Works was laid off,
many employees who worked under him became apprehensive about their job security. They
were aware of the current trend toward laying off employees in the economy. The termination of
their manager combined with the fact that their division had performed only moderately well in
the last two quarters led the employees to believe that they were at a high risk of losing their jobs
as well. Which of the following, if true, would weaken the argument that the production manager
should hold face-to-face meetings to assure the employees in the production division?
A) The employees have serious concerns over job security.
B) Rumors had spread about impending layoffs at Wilson Works.
C) The middle-level manager supervised over five hundred employees.
D) Wilson Works has a strong formal communication network in place.
E) The company has no fixed policy with regard to rightsizing employees.