Issues and Trends in Professional Communication

Click on each question to check your answer.

1. How do hard and soft skills differ?

Hard skills are the technical skills employees need to do their jobs, and soft skills are the social, interpersonal, self-management, and language skills that complement their technical skills.

2. What are the risks associated with information and communication technologies (ICTs)?

Data stored and transmitted using mobile phone systems and Internet technologies are at risk of being a target of reproduction without permission (piracy), sabotage through hacking (cyberwarfare), or identity theft.

3. How do sustainable development initiatives affect corporate communications?

Because interest in maintaining natural resources has grown, most organizations now complete mandatory and voluntary sustainability reporting. Communicating sustainability initiatives can improve a company’s reputation and profits.

4. What do millennials look for in employment?

Millennials (individuals born between 1981 and 1996) generally seek flexible hours, work–life balance, continual learning and feedback, fulfillment, and communication.

5. What skills do millennials offer organizations?

Millennials tend to be open to working in teams, communicating freely to managers, embracing new communication technologies, and adapting to change.

6. Why are territorial acknowledgements important to business in Canada?

A fact of doing business in Canada is that work is conducted on the traditional territories of First Peoples. Acknowledging territory shows respect for and recognition of Indigenous Peoples and helps build reciprocal relationships necessary for achieving understanding and reconciliation.

7. What information should go into a territorial acknowledgement?

A land acknowledgment names and recognizes a specific Indigenous group or groups: “We want to acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of [nation names].” There is no single land acknowledgement statement that can be used Canada-wide—only context-specific statements are true acknowledgements. Along with specific naming, the acknowledgement should also explain why you are acknowledging the land and should speak to the relevance of Indigenous rights to the event. Overall, the acknowledgement should be meaningful.

8. What are the organizational benefits of employee engagement?

Engaged employees lead to increased organizational performance and revenues.

9. How can employees show their professionalism?

Employees can show their professionalism by putting clients first, maintaining confidentiality, and using their knowledge for honest, legal, and ethical purposes.

10. What are the four behavioural stages of optimal team development?

Teams should pass through forming, storming, norming, and performing stages.

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