BUSI 300 Homework 1 Aplia Communication Foundations Assignment solutions complete answers

BUSI 300 Homework 1 Aplia Communication Foundations Assignment solutions complete answers 

 

1. Defining communication and describing the value of communication in business.

Communication is the process of exchanging and interpreting information or meaning through a common system of signs, symbols, and behavior. For example, any time that you write, speak, listen, and converse, you are communicating meaning and information. To be successful in your career, you need to be an effective communicator.

 

Today’s workplace activities require that you communicate in a variety of ways while performing many different tasks. Which of the following workplace tasks are communication based? Check all that apply.

 

Read the scenario, and then answer the corresponding questions.

You have just taken over an important client from your co-worker, Carol. As you prepare to meet your new client along for the first time, you think about the information that will be most critical for your clients to receive and understand. You realize that just supplying information will not be enough.

 

In addition to supplying the client with information they need, the purpose of your meeting should also be to    .

 

The purpose of communication can include establishing and maintaining our credibility.

 

One goal of communication is     .

 

You have been searching for a new supplier for galvanized tin, which is necessary for your employees to complete production of important orders. Sarah, the sales representative with TinTim, sets up a meeting with you to discuss the typical order cycle and potential lead times needed for shipments.

 

As you meet the clients for the first time, you talk a little about your background in order to    .

 

In additional to building credibility within the workplace, a key function of communication is to persuade others.

 

The meaning of a communication is determined through a system of     .

 

You are delivering an important presentation to the executive board of A-1 Reproductions. Prior to the presentation, you carefully selected and organized the information in your presentation and practiced the delivery with your colleagues.

 

True or False: Practicing the delivery of your presentation was just as important as organizing the information because, in a face-to-face encounter, nonverbal signals convey the majority of information.

 

Typically, a manager spends less than half of their day involved in communication.

 

One goal of communication is     .

 

2. Listening as a communication skill

Listening is a critical communication skill. Even the most carefully crafted messages do not work unless they are received and understood. In the workplace, your ability to listen well is as important as your ability to write or speak well.

 

How can improved listening skills help you advance your career? Check all that apply.

Listening will help you learn more.

You do not have to participate as much when you are listening.

Good listening skills can help you be more productive.

Good listeners tend to be more likeable.

 

Read the scenario about listening, and then answer the three corresponding questions.

You supervise a team of entry-level employees. Recently, one of the team members went on a three-month maternity leave. The team is having a hard time readjusting roles and relationships. You notice tension on the team, and so you call Jim, the team leader, into your office to debrief.

As you meet with Jim, you notice that he isn’t himself. He seems distracted and upset. You think his stressed appearance may be related to the team’s troubles, so you ask him if he is doing OK. Jim immediately takes the opportunity to unload all the troubles that he is having with his roommate and his girlfriend. His eyes well up as he begins a long story about a ring that was lost under a couch cushion.

You find yourself nodding at appropriate times as Jim continues on. You don’t want to interrupt him. You recognize this is an important moment to listen, but you keep glancing at your computer screen and the incoming email. You begin going through your mental to-do list for the afternoon. Jim’s story seems unending. You decide that Jim is just one of those venting types and politely stop listening.

Finally, Jim says, “. . . and that’s why we just won’t have the project completed on schedule. Thanks for understanding.” He stands up, shakes your hand, and leaves.

 

Different occasions call for different listening styles. Which listening style is best suited for this situation?

Casual listening

Intensive listening

Empathetic listening

 

After Jim leaves, you realize that you were not listening very well. Which of the bad listening habits apply to you in your meeting with Jim? Check all that apply.

Failing to observe nonverbal aids

Allowing disruptions

Overlistening

Stereotyping

Faking attention

Dismissing subjects as uninteresting

 

What adjustments could you make to improve your listening skills in similar situations in the future?

Take excessive notes to capture all data accurately.

Stay actively involved.

Do not interrupt the speaker.

 

You and a coworker are presenting a status report to a client. The project is a little behind schedule and may need to be adjusted. You have prepared a detailed presentation updating the client on the current state of research and development for the project.

While you are meeting with the client, your coworker frequently checks his email, shuffles through papers, and interrupts you. The client is getting noticeably agitated with your coworker. The client seems worried about the project and unable to get a clear idea of why it is behind schedule. You fear that the client will begin to question your team’s credibility.

You decide to take control of the meeting. You ask the client to present all his questions and concerns. You indicate that he will not be interrupted. Your coworker takes the cue and begins taking copious notes, trying to record every word that the client says.

After expressing his concerns, the client then asks for your response. To calm the client’s fears and to get the meeting back on track, you attempt to get to the core of his concerns. Unfortunately, your coworker doesn’t really understand what the client has said and gets hung up on inconsequential details.

 

During the meeting, you know that your coworker is not listening well. Which of the following bad listening habits does he have? Check all that apply.

Allowing disruptions

Overlistening

Faking attention

Stereotyping

Dismissing subjects as uninteresting

Failing to observe nonverbal aids

 

If you were to make suggestions to your coworker to help him improve his listening, what would you suggest he do first?

Minimize environmental and mental distractions.

Ask redundant questions to clarify.

Take excessive notes to capture all data accurately.

 

You are meeting with your coworkers and supervisor to review a new team assignment, work plan, and schedule. Your supervisor distributes the project schedule and begins to walk the team through highlighted dates and deliverables.

Your coworker Karen glances through the schedule, appears to be bored, and then begins using her smartphone to check her email. She looks up at regular intervals and pretends to be listening, but she doesn’t notice when your supervisor indicates several slight but critical last-minute changes to the schedule on the white board.

Finally, your supervisor indicates that there will be follow-up meetings next Monday morning. Each subteam then will meet to review the project components and begin problem solving.

At the end of your team meeting, Karen raises her hand and asks your supervisor when the next meeting is. She wants to enter it on her schedule.

 

Your coworker Karen was not listening well. Which of the bad listening habits apply to Karen in the scenario? Check all that apply.

 

What is the first suggestion you should make to help Karen become a more effective listener?

 

3. Chapter Review

Interpersonal intelligence is the first step in developing strong professional relationships and good group communication practices. These questions will test your knowledge of the various aspects of interpersonal and group communication covered in Chapter 2.

 

Which selection presents Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in order, beginning with the lowest level need?

Physiological needs, safety, social needs, esteem, self-actualization

Physiological needs, social needs, esteem, self-actualization, safety

Safety, social needs, physiological needs, self-actualization, esteem

 

Which of these statements about nonverbal messages is true?

Nonverbal messages always support the accompanying verbal messages.

Nonverbal messages are never harmful.

Nonverbal messages may be beneficial.

 

We all have bad listening habits from time to time. Which of these choices are listening habits to be avoided? Check all that apply.

Mirroring the speaker’s emotions

Nodding in agreement

Failing to observe nonverbal aids

Overlistening

 

Read the scenario about the engineering team, and then answer the corresponding question.

A team of engineers is working on reducing stray light interference in telescope images of distant galaxies. The team has worked together for several years. Each team member plays a variety of necessary roles and has learned to eliminate nonproductive roles. Additionally, the team has adopted practices that encourage acceptance and create communication opportunities. This is largely due to the director of the team, who encourages participation and effective activity.

 

Which characteristic of effective groups is presented in this scenario?

Statistical variance

Role differentiation

Role perception

 

    is one of the four key behaviors that performing teams exhibit.

 

Read the scenario about a team meeting, and then answer the corresponding question.

Your team is meeting to plan the upcoming database transfer. Several of your team members have different ideas on how the transfer should be handled. One coworker gets so angry she storms out of the room. The room promptly erupts in chaos.

 

What effective meeting practice should this team strive for?

Preparing through minutes

Maintaining order

Distributing an agenda

 

Successful teams are critical for business success. Small-group and team effectiveness evolves primarily from a high level of    between individuals.

 

Listening is the first step to effective communication. Which of these choices promote effective listening? Check all that apply.

Getting in touch with the speaker

Minimizing distractions

Asking reflective questions

Not interrupting the speaker

 

Which characteristic of effective groups is present in this scenario?

Team leadership

Status reporting

Meeting frequency

 

Jorge is the type of manager who tends to listen before speaking. He is encouraging.

 

Different managers have different management styles. What is Jorge’s management style in this description?

Supportive

Directive

 

Different occasions call for different listening styles. Which of these choices represent different styles of listening? Check all that apply.

Recreational

Intensive

Empathetic

Active

 

Your team is meeting to plan an upcoming database transfer. Several of your team members have very different ideas on how the transfer should be handled. Two team members in particular are focusing on personality differences, not on ideas.