Business Communication Essentials, 8e (Bovee/Thill) ALL CHAPTERS
Chapter 1 Understanding Business Communication in Today's Workplace
ANSWERS INCLUDED
1) How does communication affect the leadership process?
A) The higher in the organization one moves, the more employees, and therefore more possible
communication issues.
B) The lower in the organization one is, the more one is judged on communication skills.
M
C) The lower in the organization one is, the more often one's work is reviewed for accuracy and
attention to basic communication conventions.
D) The higher in the organization one moves, the more time one spends on the task of
E
communicating.
E) The higher in the organization one moves, the less time one spends on the task of
D
communicating.
Answer: D
C
Explanation: If you launch a company or move into an executive role in an existing
organization, you can expect communication to consume the majority of your time. Top
executives spend most of their workdays communicating, and businesspeople who can't
O
communicate well don't stand much chance of reaching the top.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
N
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
N
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Interpersonal relations and teamwork
O
2) Which of the following is promoted when you use effective communication skills?
A) Faster problem solving
I
B) Less trust between you and your coworkers
S
C) Minimal engagement between workers
D) Independent decision making
S
E) Increase business costs on safety issues
Answer: A
E
Explanation: Effective communication strengthens the connection between a company and all
of its stakeholders. One benefit of effective communication is increased productivity and faster
U
problem solving.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
R
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
,3) Which of the following best describes the process of communication?
A) Transferring of information between senders and receivers
B) Using digital media to convey data
C) Providing inspiration to others
D) Agreeing upon meaning
E) Selling an idea to those who may need it
Answer: A
Explanation: Communication is the process of transferring information and meaning between
M
senders and receivers using a variety of methods and resources. It may or may not inspire others,
and meaning may not be agreed upon. The essence of communication is sharing in a way that
E
benefits both the sender and the receiver.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
D
business communication.
Difficulty: Easy
Question Cat.: Concept
C
AACSB: Application of knowledge
O
4) Which of the following best supports the need for effective communication in a person's
career?
N
A) The more technical the position, the less likely the employee will need to communicate
outside of the organization.
N
B) The higher in the organization an employee is, the more likely the employee will need to
communicate effectively both internally and externally to the organization.
C) The higher in the organization an employee is, the less likely the employee will need to
O
communicate effectively both internally and externally to the organization.
D) Top executives spend very little of the workday communicating with others.
I
E) Top executives spend more time listening than communicating.
S
Answer: B
Explanation: As one moves into leadership position, more time is consumed by the
S
communication process, including written, verbal, and listening skills.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
E
business communication.
Difficulty: Easy
U
Question Cat.: Concept
AACSB: Written and oral communication
R
,5) Which of the following is the result of using an effective communication process in an
organization?
A) An effective communication process slows down the problem-solving time, allowing for
better analysis of options before decisions are made.
B) An effective communication process hampers employee satisfaction and increases employee
turnover.
C) An effective communication process increases timely, reliable information, leading to
"information overload" during the decision-making process.
M
D) An effective communication process is more costly than other communication processes.
E) An effective communication process provides the ability to influence conversations,
E
perceptions, and trends.
Answer: E
D
Explanation: Effective communication allows for timely and reliable information, allowing for
greater influence over conversations, perceptions, and trends. Effective communication often
saves time and resources and allows for a better decision making process.
C
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
business communication.
O
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
N
N
6) Which of the following least supports the purpose of communication?
A) Providing data
B) Providing information
O
C) Providing inspiration
D) Providing control
I
E) Providing insight
S
Answer: D
Explanation: The essence of communication is sharing—providing data, information, insights,
S
and inspiration in an exchange that benefits both you and the people with whom you are
communicating.
E
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
business communication.
U
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
R
AACSB: Written and oral communication
, 7) In which of the following fields would the ability to share complex ideas about a project be
most critical?
A) Engineering
B) Sales
C) Human resources
D) Entrepreneurial start ups
E) Independent contractors
Answer: A
M
Explanation: While strong communication skills in any field are often critical to success, the
ability to present complex ideas in a clear and easy to understand manner is most important in
E
technical fields such as engineering and finance.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
D
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
C
AACSB: Interpersonal relations and teamwork
O
8) Crafting a message to generate a specific response from an audience requires the use of what
type of information?
A) Practical
B) Factual
N
N
C) Concise
D) Clear
E) Detailed
O
Answer: D
Explanation: Clarifying expectations and responsibilities will generate a specific response from
I
a specific audience, and should clearly state what is expected from them. This is different than a
S
persuasive message that explains the benefits of the desired response.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
S
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
E
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Reflective thinking
U
R
Chapter 1 Understanding Business Communication in Today's Workplace
ANSWERS INCLUDED
1) How does communication affect the leadership process?
A) The higher in the organization one moves, the more employees, and therefore more possible
communication issues.
B) The lower in the organization one is, the more one is judged on communication skills.
M
C) The lower in the organization one is, the more often one's work is reviewed for accuracy and
attention to basic communication conventions.
D) The higher in the organization one moves, the more time one spends on the task of
E
communicating.
E) The higher in the organization one moves, the less time one spends on the task of
D
communicating.
Answer: D
C
Explanation: If you launch a company or move into an executive role in an existing
organization, you can expect communication to consume the majority of your time. Top
executives spend most of their workdays communicating, and businesspeople who can't
O
communicate well don't stand much chance of reaching the top.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
N
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
N
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Interpersonal relations and teamwork
O
2) Which of the following is promoted when you use effective communication skills?
A) Faster problem solving
I
B) Less trust between you and your coworkers
S
C) Minimal engagement between workers
D) Independent decision making
S
E) Increase business costs on safety issues
Answer: A
E
Explanation: Effective communication strengthens the connection between a company and all
of its stakeholders. One benefit of effective communication is increased productivity and faster
U
problem solving.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
R
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
,3) Which of the following best describes the process of communication?
A) Transferring of information between senders and receivers
B) Using digital media to convey data
C) Providing inspiration to others
D) Agreeing upon meaning
E) Selling an idea to those who may need it
Answer: A
Explanation: Communication is the process of transferring information and meaning between
M
senders and receivers using a variety of methods and resources. It may or may not inspire others,
and meaning may not be agreed upon. The essence of communication is sharing in a way that
E
benefits both the sender and the receiver.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
D
business communication.
Difficulty: Easy
Question Cat.: Concept
C
AACSB: Application of knowledge
O
4) Which of the following best supports the need for effective communication in a person's
career?
N
A) The more technical the position, the less likely the employee will need to communicate
outside of the organization.
N
B) The higher in the organization an employee is, the more likely the employee will need to
communicate effectively both internally and externally to the organization.
C) The higher in the organization an employee is, the less likely the employee will need to
O
communicate effectively both internally and externally to the organization.
D) Top executives spend very little of the workday communicating with others.
I
E) Top executives spend more time listening than communicating.
S
Answer: B
Explanation: As one moves into leadership position, more time is consumed by the
S
communication process, including written, verbal, and listening skills.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
E
business communication.
Difficulty: Easy
U
Question Cat.: Concept
AACSB: Written and oral communication
R
,5) Which of the following is the result of using an effective communication process in an
organization?
A) An effective communication process slows down the problem-solving time, allowing for
better analysis of options before decisions are made.
B) An effective communication process hampers employee satisfaction and increases employee
turnover.
C) An effective communication process increases timely, reliable information, leading to
"information overload" during the decision-making process.
M
D) An effective communication process is more costly than other communication processes.
E) An effective communication process provides the ability to influence conversations,
E
perceptions, and trends.
Answer: E
D
Explanation: Effective communication allows for timely and reliable information, allowing for
greater influence over conversations, perceptions, and trends. Effective communication often
saves time and resources and allows for a better decision making process.
C
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
business communication.
O
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Written and oral communication
N
N
6) Which of the following least supports the purpose of communication?
A) Providing data
B) Providing information
O
C) Providing inspiration
D) Providing control
I
E) Providing insight
S
Answer: D
Explanation: The essence of communication is sharing—providing data, information, insights,
S
and inspiration in an exchange that benefits both you and the people with whom you are
communicating.
E
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
business communication.
U
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
R
AACSB: Written and oral communication
, 7) In which of the following fields would the ability to share complex ideas about a project be
most critical?
A) Engineering
B) Sales
C) Human resources
D) Entrepreneurial start ups
E) Independent contractors
Answer: A
M
Explanation: While strong communication skills in any field are often critical to success, the
ability to present complex ideas in a clear and easy to understand manner is most important in
E
technical fields such as engineering and finance.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
D
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
Question Cat.: Application
C
AACSB: Interpersonal relations and teamwork
O
8) Crafting a message to generate a specific response from an audience requires the use of what
type of information?
A) Practical
B) Factual
N
N
C) Concise
D) Clear
E) Detailed
O
Answer: D
Explanation: Clarifying expectations and responsibilities will generate a specific response from
I
a specific audience, and should clearly state what is expected from them. This is different than a
S
persuasive message that explains the benefits of the desired response.
Learning Obj: LO: 1.1: Define communication, and explain the importance of effective
S
business communication.
Difficulty: Moderate
E
Question Cat.: Application
AACSB: Reflective thinking
U
R
