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Communication Skills Past Paper 2022

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
70 views2 pages

Communication Skills Past Paper 2022

Uploaded by

James Kilola
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CPA FOUNDATION LEVEL

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

MONDAY: 5 December 2022. Afternoon Paper. Time Allowed: 3 hours.

Answer any FIVE questions. ALL questions carry equal marks. Do NOT write anything on this paper.

QUESTION ONE
(a) State FOUR characteristics of non-verbal communication. (4 marks)

(b) Explain FOUR benefits of effective listening. (8 marks)

(c) Analyse FOUR factors that make business letters valuable communication tools in an organisation. (8 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

QUESTION TWO
(a) Outline FOUR preparatory duties performed by a secretary before a meeting is convened. (4 marks)

(b) You have been appointed as a communications manager in an organisation.

Explain FOUR ways in which you could use the 7Cs of communication. (8 marks)

(c) Discuss FOUR causes of informal communication in an organisation. (8 marks)


(Total: 20 marks)

QUESTION THREE
(a) Highlight FOUR characteristics of a good presenter. (4 marks)

(b) Explain the strategies that could be applied to overcome the following barriers to communication:

(i) Use of jargons. (2 marks)

(ii) Difference in perception. (2 marks)

(iii) Distortion. (2 marks)

(iv) Information overload. (2 marks)

(c) You have been asked to design a questionnaire to collect information on staff motivation in your organisation.

Highlight EIGHT guidelines that you would take into account to ensure employees fill the questionnaire.
(8 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

QUESTION FOUR
(a) (i) Explain the meaning of the term “ethical communication”. (2 marks)

(ii) Discuss FOUR reasons why ethical communication is essential in an organisation. (8 marks)

(b) You have been invited to give a public speech in a youth seminar.

Analyse FIVE techniques you could use to arouse the audience at the introduction stage of the speech.
(10 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
CA12 Page 1
Out of 2
QUESTION FIVE
(a) Highlight FIVE factors that could be considered when designing a brochure for an organisation. (5 marks)

(b) Identify FIVE ways in which wireless technology has enhanced modern communication. (5 marks)

(c) Describe FIVE factors that might be considered when communicating with people from different cultures.
(10 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

QUESTION SIX
(a) Highlight FOUR common complaints on the use of emails at the workplace. (4 marks)

(b) With reference to meetings:

(i) Explain THREE differences between “minutes” and “resolutions”. (6 marks)

(ii) Discuss FIVE strategies that could be applied in an organisation to overcome barriers associated with
ineffective meetings. (10 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

QUESTION SEVEN
(a) State FOUR objectives that could be achieved by using upward communication channels. (4 marks)

(b) Highlight FIVE factors that might be considered when replying to a request for credit from a loyal customer.
(5 marks)

(c) Outline FIVE uses of bullets in a business letter. (5 marks)

(d) Summarise SIX factors that might be put into consideration when writing a business report. (6 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
.............................................................................................................

CA12 Page 2
Out of 2

Common questions

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Guidelines include clarity and conciseness of questions, logical flow, use of simple language, balanced scales, assurance of anonymity, and clear instructions. Ensuring relevance to participants, limiting length to avoid fatigue, and piloting the survey for feedback significantly enhance response rates and data reliability .

Non-verbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact. These characteristics impact business interactions by conveying emotions and attitudes that may not be explicitly stated verbally, enhancing or contradicting verbal messages, regulating the flow of conversation, and providing feedback without words .

Preparatory duties such as organizing the agenda, booking a venue, notifying participants, and preparing materials are crucial for meeting effectiveness. They ensure that meetings are structured, focused, and that all relevant information is available to participants. This preparation minimizes disruptions, maximizes the use of time, and enhances participant engagement and productivity .

Strategies include setting clear objectives, ensuring participant engagement, using agendas effectively, encouraging concise contributions, and using technology for organization. These address issues like unproductive discussions by focusing on goals, ensuring relevant participation, structuring the discourse, and keeping meetings time-efficient and outcome-driven .

Effective brochure design involves considering layout, typography, color scheme, images, and messaging. The layout must be visually appealing and easy to navigate, typography should enhance readability, and the color scheme should align with the brand. Images must be relevant and high-quality, and the message should be clear and compelling to engage the audience .

A communication manager can utilize the 7Cs—clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous—to ensure messages are understandable and free of ambiguity, enhancing message impact and reducing misunderstandings. Clarity and conciseness prevent information overload, concreteness and correctness enhance credibility, coherence and completeness ensure logical flow and full understanding, while courteousness fosters a positive communication environment .

Ethical communication fosters a positive organizational culture by ensuring transparency, promoting trust, and encouraging honest dialogue. It helps in building strong relationships between stakeholders, reducing misunderstandings, and creating an environment where employees feel valued and respected, leading to increased morale and productivity. Ethical communication also aligns organizational actions with societal values, enhancing the organization's reputation .

Cultural considerations in communication are vital as they prevent misunderstandings and foster mutual respect and effective collaboration among diverse teams. They ensure that messages are culturally appropriate, enhance empathy and adaptability, and promote inclusivity. Understanding cultural nuances improves negotiation skills, enhances customer relations, and strengthens international partnerships .

Common barriers include jargon, perception differences, distortion, and information overload. Overcoming these involves simplifying language, using feedback to ensure understanding, clarifying meanings, prioritizing information, and providing supporting evidence where necessary. Training in active listening and cultural awareness can also mitigate perception-based barriers .

Wireless technology enhances communication through increased mobility, instant connectivity, cost savings, and flexibility. These enhance organizational efficiency by enabling remote work, facilitating real-time collaboration, reducing operational costs, and providing adaptive solutions to changing communication needs. It enhances connectivity by allowing seamless integration of various communication channels .

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