UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: 2011/2012
FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
BIT 1104 1108 BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SKILLS
DATE: AUGUST, 2012 TIME: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer Question ONE and any other TWO
QUESTION ONE
a) Today, many communication messages are transmitted through electronic
technology but there will always be a role for the business letter. Briefly discuss this
statement. (5 Marks)
b) Write an academic essay on the following topic “Making reading an effective tool
of study” (10 Marks)
c) i. Show four possible problems that may occur in the communication
process due to the message itself. (4 Marks)
ii. Semantic barriers do create problems in the understanding of sentences.
Study the following sentences which have a problem and answer the
questions that follow
a) What problems are there in each of these sentences ? (2 Marks)
1. The manager was as anxious to please his customers as his staff.
2. The man told his clerk he was a busy man and could not keep his accounts
properly.
b) Rewrite each sentence so that it has only one possible meaning (2 Marks)
d) Explain the following academic terms:
i. in-text referencing
ii. End-text referencing
iii. Plagiarism
iv. APA referencing
v. Formal argumentation versus informal argumentation
vi. Referece list versus bibliography
vii. Academic language
(7 Marks)
QUESTION TWO
a) Identify and explain four types of committee meeting documents. (8 Marks)
b) Describe the advantages of sending documents through electronic mail? (4 Marks)
c) Identify five sources of information for a student’s academic work and three
general precautions to take in using sources (8 Marks)
QUESTION THREE
a) Explain at least five methods of upward communication. (10 Marks)
b) Explain five key skills required by a Public Relations officer in XYZ Limited.
(10 Marks)
QUESTION FOUR
a) Downward communication is of necessity the most common flow of information
in an organization . Expound on the statement above? (5 Marks)
b) You have been requested by your supervisor to write a short report about the
advantages and disadvantages of written communication in your department in
ABC company. Write the report. (15 Marks)
QUESTION FIVE
a) Explain any four possible objectives of an interviewer(s) in a job selection
interview. (4 Marks)
b) Describe how you would successfully plan and deliver a class presentation. Use
examples to illustrate your points. (10 Marks)
c) Identify six visuals aids you would use in a public speech and explain the positive
effect of each type. (6 Marks)
