IIA IIA Certifications IIA-CIA-PART3 Questions & Answers

• Question 521:

  Communication must occur in various directions within an organization. The kind of communication that is the slowest is:

  A. Upward.

  B. Downward.

  C. Horizontal.

  D. Diagonal.

  Correct Answer: A

  The directions of communication are upward, downward, horizontal, and diagonal. Upward communication is from a subordinate to a superior morale surveys, grievance procedures, interviews, conferences). It is usually slower and must overcome more barriers than other directions of communication. Moreover, subordinates may be hesitant to communicate with superiors when interpersonal problems arise.

• Question 522:

  Because communication is vital to effective management, managers spend most of their time communicating. Consequently, managers

  A. Who are good communicators will be effective.

  B. Mostly engage in oral communication.

  C. Devote most of their time to formal, written communication.

  D. Are essentially senders of messages.

  Correct Answer: B

  Because communication is the process of conveying meaning or understanding from one person to another, managers must spend most of their time communicating with subordinates, peers, and superiors. More of this communication is oral and informal than written and formal. Managers communicate lower-level results and problems upward, and coordinating information horizontally. Infrequently, communication may also be among peers or across organizational channels.

• Question 523:

  Communication is the process by which meaning is conveyed between people. According tocommunications theory:

  A. The process has three elements:sender, medium, receiver.

  B. One-directional communication is usually most effective.

  C. Communication is the message actually received, not what is transmitted.

  D. Informal communications are usually to be avoided because of their inaccuracy.

  Correct Answer: C

  The communication process has five elements:the sender, the symbols in which the message is encoded, the medium through which the message flows, the receiver, and feedback. Because the effectiveness of communication can be known only by its impact on the receiver and the perceived change in the receiver's behavior, the received message is what is communicated. The sent message may be garbled in encoding, in transmission, or in the receiver's decoding.

• Question 524:

  Job instructions, official memos, and procedures manuals are examples of which type of organizational communication?

  A. Upward.

  B. Downward.

  C. Lateral.

  D. Diagonal.

  Correct Answer: B

  Downward communication from superior to subordinate) is vertical communication consisting of orders, instructions, notices, memos, bulletins, newsletters, handbooks, loudspeakers, and the chain of command. It also includes job instructions and procedures manuals.

• Question 525:

  An advisable strategy for a participant in a meeting of the internal auditing staff is to:

  A. Read the agenda and supporting materials for the meeting during the early part of the meeting to prepare for later discussion.

  B. Present strong opinions on one side of a proposal right away.

  C. Present views as trial balloons that can be researched later.

  D. Consider the opinions and information needs of other participants before speaking.

  Correct Answer: D

  Analyzing the audience assists a speaker to gather the right information for the meeting. Moreover, understanding the other participants' opinions and needs enables the speaker to express his/her ideas in the way best calculated to be persuasive.

• Question 526:

  Effective communication is most likely to take place when the:

  A. Sender and receiver share similar frames of reference.

  B. Message is stated in general rather than specific terms.

  C. Message is delivered as quickly as possible.

  D. Sender ignores any underlying assumptions.

  Correct Answer: A

  Effective communication is likely to have the least amount of distortion when the sender and the receiver share similar frames of reference. If both sender and receiver understand thesymbols used to communicate and the underlying assumptions concerning the problem, the message will be easier to write, to send, and to understand.

• Question 527:

  Nonverbal communication consists of messages conveyed by:

  I. The physical distance between the sender and the receiver

  II. The facial expressions used when speaking

  III. Electronic means of communication such as email

  IV.

  Unconscious actions of the speaker while speaking

  A.

  Ill only.

  B.

  IV only.

  C.

  I and II only.

  D.

  I, II, and IV.

  Correct Answer: D

  Physical distance and positioning convey many nonverbal messages that depend on cultural differences. For example, Americans tend to prefer a large personal space. Facial expressions provide almost limitless variations of meaning thanks to the dozens of facial muscles and the possibilities created by different contexts, cultures, and individual personalities. In addition to facial expressions, other unconscious actions of the speaker affect the message sent. They include gestures, posture, movement,touch, mode of dress, surroundings, and voice characteristics.

• Question 528:

  Which of the following is an example of upward communication?

  A. Management's notices on bulletin boards.

  B. Grievance actions.

  C. Informational inserts in pay envelopes.

  D. Personnel policy manuals.

  Correct Answer: B

  Grievance actions are a formal means of bringing employee dissatisfaction to the attention of management, i.e., from the bottom upward.

• Question 529:

  Every month, the superintendent of a production department sends copies of the department's production variance reports to the supervisory staff, asking the supervisory staff to explain variances that exceed certain prescribed limits. The superintendent's communication of variancesto the supervisory staff and the supervisory staffs explanation to the superintendent of the variances are examples of:

  A. Horizontal communication and upward communication, respectively.

  B. Formal and informal communication, respectively.

  C. Informal communication and the grapevine, respectively.

  D. Downward communication and upward communication, respectively.

  Correct Answer: D

  Communication can be downward from superior to subordinate), upward from subordinate to superior), or horizontal from one peer to another). The superintendent's communication of variance reports to the subordinates is downward communication. The subordinates' replies are upward communications.

• Question 530:

  An advisable strategy for a participant in a meeting of the employees would be to:

  A. Read the agenda and supporting materials for the meeting during the early part of the meeting to prepare for later discussion.

  B. Present strong opinions on one side of a proposal right away.

  C. Present views as trial balloons that can be researched later.

  D. Consider the opinions and information needs of other participants before speaking.

  Correct Answer: D

  Analyzing the audience assists a speaker to gather the right information for the meeting. Moreover, understanding the other participants' opinions and needs enables the speaker to express his/her ideas in the way best calculated to be persuasive.