Essentials of Organizational Behavior, 12e (Robbins/Judge)
Chapter 11 Communication
1) Before communication can take place it needs a ________.
A) purpose
B) channel
C) receiver
D) filter
E) decoder
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Before communication can take place it needs a purpose, a message to be conveyed between a
sender and a receiver. The key parts of the communication process are (1) the sender, (2) encoding, (3) the message,
2) In a communication process, the ________ initiates a message by encoding a thought.
A) receiver
B) decoder
C) channel
D) sender
E) signal
Answer: D
Explanation: D) In a communication process, the sender initiates a message by encoding a thought.
3) In a communication process, the ________ is the actual physical product of the sender's encoding.
A) channel
B) message
C) feedback
D) transmitter
E) noise
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The message is the actual physical product of the sender's encoding.
4) With reference to the communication process, when a sender speaks, the speech is the ________.
A) channel
B) filter
C) message
D) noise
E) transmitter
Answer: C
Explanation: C) When we speak, the speech is the message.
5) John writes a memo to his employees. Putting his thoughts onto paper is an example of ________.
A) encoding
B) decoding
C) transferring
D) channeling
E) editing
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The sender initiates a message by encoding a thought. The message is the actual physical product
of the sender's encoding. John uses writing to encode his message.
6) With reference to the communication process, the ________ is the medium through which the message travels.
A) feedback
B) noise
C) encoder
D) channel
E) decoder
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The channel is the medium through which the message travels.
, 7) With reference to the communication process, the ________ is the one to whom the message is directed, who
must first translate the symbols into understandable form.
A) editor
B) receiver
C) encoder
D) sender
E) channel
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The receiver is the person(s) to whom the message is directed, who must first translate the symbols
into understandable form.
8) In a communication process, ________ is the check on how successful we have been in transferring our messages
as originally intended.
A) editing
B) decoding
C) feedback
D) encoding
E) noise
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Feedback is the check on how successful we have been in transferring our messages as originally
intended. It determines whether understanding has been achieved.
9) Which of the following statements is definitely true regarding an informal communication channel?
A) It traditionally follows the authority chain within the organization.
B) It generally transmits messages related to the professional activities of members.
C) It is established by the organization.
D) It is generally used for communicating personal or social messages.
E) Information regarding change in the policies of the organization is transmitted through it.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Formal channels are established by the organization and transmit messages related to the
professional activities of members. They traditionally follow the authority chain within the organization. Other
forms of messages, such as personal or social, follow informal channels, which are spontaneous and emerge as a
response to individual choices.
10) Helena and Laura were talking on the phone. Laura's two-year-old son fell and started crying loudly. Laura
could no longer hear what Helena said. This is an example of ________.
A) feedback
B) decoding
C) noise
D) encoding
E) filtering
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Noise represents communication barriers that distort the clarity of the message, such as perceptual
problems, information overload, semantic difficulties, or cultural differences. The crying baby represents noise.
11) Group leaders and managers communicating with employees to assign goals and to provide job instructions is an
example of a(n) ________ communication.
A) downward
B) lateral
C) upward
D) grapevine
E) horizontal
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Communication that flows from one level of a group or organization to a lower level is downward
communication. It's used by group leaders and managers communicating with employees to assign goals, provide
job instructions, explain policies and procedures, point out problems that need attention, and offer feedback about
performance.
Chapter 11 Communication
1) Before communication can take place it needs a ________.
A) purpose
B) channel
C) receiver
D) filter
E) decoder
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Before communication can take place it needs a purpose, a message to be conveyed between a
sender and a receiver. The key parts of the communication process are (1) the sender, (2) encoding, (3) the message,
2) In a communication process, the ________ initiates a message by encoding a thought.
A) receiver
B) decoder
C) channel
D) sender
E) signal
Answer: D
Explanation: D) In a communication process, the sender initiates a message by encoding a thought.
3) In a communication process, the ________ is the actual physical product of the sender's encoding.
A) channel
B) message
C) feedback
D) transmitter
E) noise
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The message is the actual physical product of the sender's encoding.
4) With reference to the communication process, when a sender speaks, the speech is the ________.
A) channel
B) filter
C) message
D) noise
E) transmitter
Answer: C
Explanation: C) When we speak, the speech is the message.
5) John writes a memo to his employees. Putting his thoughts onto paper is an example of ________.
A) encoding
B) decoding
C) transferring
D) channeling
E) editing
Answer: A
Explanation: A) The sender initiates a message by encoding a thought. The message is the actual physical product
of the sender's encoding. John uses writing to encode his message.
6) With reference to the communication process, the ________ is the medium through which the message travels.
A) feedback
B) noise
C) encoder
D) channel
E) decoder
Answer: D
Explanation: D) The channel is the medium through which the message travels.
, 7) With reference to the communication process, the ________ is the one to whom the message is directed, who
must first translate the symbols into understandable form.
A) editor
B) receiver
C) encoder
D) sender
E) channel
Answer: B
Explanation: B) The receiver is the person(s) to whom the message is directed, who must first translate the symbols
into understandable form.
8) In a communication process, ________ is the check on how successful we have been in transferring our messages
as originally intended.
A) editing
B) decoding
C) feedback
D) encoding
E) noise
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Feedback is the check on how successful we have been in transferring our messages as originally
intended. It determines whether understanding has been achieved.
9) Which of the following statements is definitely true regarding an informal communication channel?
A) It traditionally follows the authority chain within the organization.
B) It generally transmits messages related to the professional activities of members.
C) It is established by the organization.
D) It is generally used for communicating personal or social messages.
E) Information regarding change in the policies of the organization is transmitted through it.
Answer: D
Explanation: D) Formal channels are established by the organization and transmit messages related to the
professional activities of members. They traditionally follow the authority chain within the organization. Other
forms of messages, such as personal or social, follow informal channels, which are spontaneous and emerge as a
response to individual choices.
10) Helena and Laura were talking on the phone. Laura's two-year-old son fell and started crying loudly. Laura
could no longer hear what Helena said. This is an example of ________.
A) feedback
B) decoding
C) noise
D) encoding
E) filtering
Answer: C
Explanation: C) Noise represents communication barriers that distort the clarity of the message, such as perceptual
problems, information overload, semantic difficulties, or cultural differences. The crying baby represents noise.
11) Group leaders and managers communicating with employees to assign goals and to provide job instructions is an
example of a(n) ________ communication.
A) downward
B) lateral
C) upward
D) grapevine
E) horizontal
Answer: A
Explanation: A) Communication that flows from one level of a group or organization to a lower level is downward
communication. It's used by group leaders and managers communicating with employees to assign goals, provide
job instructions, explain policies and procedures, point out problems that need attention, and offer feedback about
performance.
