Communication Networks

Effective managers have good communication skills. This involves not only listening and written and verbal skills, but also understanding the various ways in which communication flows in organizations. The pathways along which information flows in groups and teams and throughout an organization are called communication networks. Effective groups and teams use the appropriate network for their tasks.

Instructions: For each descriptor, select the correct type of network.

$1.$ Fatima $-$ Communicates through one central contact person in her group, which engages in pooled task interdependence.

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$2.$ Dexter $-$ Serves on a team where all members communicate with all of the other members frequently. Their work involves reciprocal task interdependence.

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$3.$ Hugo $-$ Is an ambulance driver. Members of his group communicate with a central dispatcher and do not need to communicate with each other.

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$4.$ Miranda $-$ Works on an assembly line assembling computers. She only needs to communicate with the person on either side of her on the line.

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$5.$ Tracy $-$ Works on several task forces and communicates with others who have the same expertise and background.

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$6.$ Emilio $-$ Has just been named to the global planning committee, which has members in several different locations. He communicates mainly with other members of the committee who have offices in the same building as him.

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$7.$ Hector $-$ Works in a group with sequential task interdependence and communicates with others only in a predetermined sequence.

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$8.$ Jill $-$ Is a member of a self$-$managed work team that uses specialized computer software to assist with the frequent communication among all members.

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