Organizational Communication Flashcards
7 cards from real CMP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Organizational Communication flashcards as text
Which of the following best describes 'upward communication' in an organizational context?
Answer: Feedback, reports, and concerns flowing from employees to management
Upward communication involves the flow of information from lower-level employees to higher-level management, including feedback, suggestions, and performance reports.
A communication professional using a 'rich' communication channel would choose which of the following?
Answer: A face-to-face meeting with real-time feedback
Media richness theory ranks face-to-face communication as the richest channel because it allows immediate feedback, multiple cues, and personalization.
When an organization aligns its internal communication strategy with its business goals, this is known as:
Answer: Strategic communication alignment
Strategic communication alignment ensures that internal messaging, campaigns, and channels directly support the organization's broader mission, vision, and business objectives.
Which organizational structure typically creates the most barriers to lateral communication between departments?
Answer: Tall hierarchical structure
Tall hierarchical structures with many layers of management often create silos, slowing lateral communication and requiring messages to travel up and then down the chain of command.
The 'SMCR' communication model developed by David Berlo identifies which four components?
Answer: Source, Message, Channel, Receiver
Berlo's SMCR model breaks communication into four elements: Source (sender), Message (content), Channel (medium), and Receiver (audience), each influenced by multiple factors.
Which practice is most effective for building psychological safety in organizational communication?
Answer: Encouraging open dialogue where employees can speak up without fear of retaliation
Psychological safety is built when leaders actively encourage candid dialogue, demonstrate openness to feedback, and ensure employees face no negative consequences for voicing concerns.
In the context of organizational communication, 'gatekeeping' refers to:
Answer: The process by which individuals or groups control the flow of information to others
Gatekeeping is the process by which managers, editors, or other intermediaries filter, select, and shape information before it reaches a wider audience.