Answer to Question 1
Answer: Managers are learning that new technology has created special communication challenges. The two main ones are (1) legal and security issues and (2) lack of personal interaction. Although e-mail is a quick and easy way to communicate, managers need to be aware of potential legal problems from inappropriate e-mail usage. Electronic information is potentially admissible in court. Security concerns are another issue managers face. Managers need to ensure that confidential information is kept confidential. Employee e-mails and blogs should not communicate inadvertently or purposely proprietary information. Corporate computer and e-mail systems should be protected against hackers (people who try to gain unauthorized access to computer systems) and spam (electronic junk mail). These are serious issues that managers and organizations must address if the benefits that communication technology offers are to be realized. Another communication challenge posed by the Internet age is the lack of personal interaction. Even when two people are communicating face-to-face, understanding is not always achieved. However, when communication takes place in a virtual environment, it can be really hard to achieve understanding and collaborate on getting work done. Some companies have gone so far as to ban e-mail on certain days of the week. Others have simply encouraged employees to collaborate more in person. Yet, there are situations and times when personal interaction isn't physically possible when employees are spread across the continent or even across the globe. In those instances, real-time collaboration software (such as private workplace wikis, blogs, instant messengers, and other types of groupware) may be a better communication choice than sending an e-mail and waiting for a response.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: D