Seat No:______________ Enrollment No:_________________

PARUL UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT
MBA, Winter 2016-17 Examination
Semester: 1 Date: 31/12/2016
Subject Code: 06200106 Time: 2:00pm to 5:00pm
Subject Name: Basic Business Communication Total Marks: 60
Instructions:
1. Attempt all questions from each section.
2. Figures to the right indicate full marks.
3. Make suitable assumptions wherever necessary.
4. Write sections –A, sections – B on separate answer sheets.

SECTION-A
Q.1 (a) Answer the Following Multiple Choice Questions: (03)
1. Groupthink occurs when group members place harmony above:
A) Motivation to change.
B) Motivation to conflict.
C) Motivation to access the best plan of action.
D) Motivation to achieve cognitive consistency.
2. Chronemics is a study of:
A) How culture perceives time.
B) Cultural space.
C) Touch.
D) Body language.
3.Which of the following is not a dimension in understanding and communicating with
people of different culture:
A) Power distance.
B) Individualism versus collectivism.
C) Belief system.
D) Uncertainty avoidance.
Q.1 (b) Define: (03)
1. Grapevine 2. Self fulfilling prophecy 3. Kinesis

Q.2 Mrs. Krupa Devi worked for 20 years in the Horlicks Biscuits Ltd, she joined very recently the (08)
Nutrine Biscuits Ltd, as the production manager, she was supposed to attend a routine
departmental heads meeting last Friday at 4.30 p.m., which was presided over by the managing
director of the company. She attended the meeting with a negative attitude and thus did not take
care to note down the main points discussed in the meeting, the managing director didn’t like her
attitude as there were many important items discussed regarding production department, Mrs.
Krupa Devi was called by the managing director on the next day and asked regarding the tasks
which were to be completed after the meet. Mrs. Krupa Devi replies that she could not recall
some of the tasks allocated to her and thus did not complete them.
What measures will you suggest to increase the effectiveness of the meeting so that such
incidents would not occur in future?

Q.3 (a) Discuss about the different levels of communication. (04)

Q.3 (b) Draw the process for planning & preparing the spoken and the written message. (03)
OR
Q.3 (a) Explain the types of listening with examples. (04)
Q.3 (b) Explain Sherwin Cody’s AIDA model and its relevance in communication. (03)

Q.4 Carefully read the following information and then answer the questions based on it. (09)
You travel on business quite often. Last week you booked a four-star hotel for one night while
you were attending a business meeting.
Page 1 of 2
 Unfortunately, your experience was very unsatisfactory. There were problems with the position of
the room, with the facilities, with the food, and with the service you received from the staff.
When you left in the morning, you were in a hurry and the manager, Mrs. Wang, was not
available. You paid the bill, however, and promised that you would inform the manager of your
dissatisfaction.
Inventing all details as you wish, write a letter to the manager of the hotel describing your
experience and requesting action.
SECTION - B
Q.1 (a) Answer the Following Multiple Choice Questions: (03)
1.All of the following are the characteristics of inductive messages except:
A) It identifies the subject of the message without turning off the receiver
B) It presents the reason before the refusal.
C) It avoids negative reaction
D) It reveals the message directly to the receiver.
2.Redundancies should be checked while revising a written communication to avoid:
A) Unneeded modifiers.
B) Familiar words that people are likely to understand.
C) Technical words or jargons.
D) Words that are semantically loaded.
3. Which of the following is not the conflict management technique:
A) Collaboration. B) Accommodation.
C) Competition. D) Substantive conflict.
Q.1 (b) Define: (03)
1. Sloppy messages 2. Chunking 3. Meta communication
Q.2 The most common forms of communication in business are: telephone; e-mail; letter; (08)
memorandum; fax; face-to-face communication.
For each of the situations given below, say which method/methods of communication is likely to
be the most effective in resolving the problem, and also say why in each case.
(a) A subordinate has failed to attend an important meeting.
(b) An order of goods has arrived from one of your regular suppliers, but is two units short of the
number you ordered.
(c) One of your managers at an overseas conference has contacted you to say that she has left
behind in her office all the papers she needs for the conference.
(d) You have to introduce your company to ten new clients, all of which are business clients.
(e) Two of your subordinates have had an argument in the office in front of members of the
public, who are also your customers. Communicate to your subordinates regarding it.
(f) The office canteen will be closed for two days because of essential maintenance work. How
will you inform your workforce?
(g) One of your suppliers in the same town asks you to clarify urgently the details of your most
recent order.
(h) Your company is relocating to new premises. How will you inform your clients?
Q.3 (a) Explain the meaning of “Silver lining idea” and its significance in communication. (04)
Q.3 (b) Explain the barriers of communication with examples. (03)
OR
Q.3 (a) Discuss the 7 Cs of effective business writing. (04)
Q.3 (b) Write a short note on impression management. (03)
Q.4 You are the Manager of Tesco Ltd. Frame a communication to persuade your employees to (09)
participate in the company’s annual blood donation drive, this message will be circulated through
emails.

Page 2 of 2