BC Cseet
BC Cseet
BC Cseet
BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION
INDEX
3.1-3.20
3 COMPREHENSION OF PASSAGE
AND ART OF SUMMARISING
CS
Muskan
Gupta
(953206
4262) |
YES
ACADEM
Y (Best
academy
for CS)
8888
235 235
2.1
1. ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND ITS USAGE
I. PARTS OF SPEECH
NOUN
Noun is a naming word. It is the name of a person, animal or thing. Example- Muskan
teaches at Yes Academy and she is a girl.
Muskan, Yes Academy and Girl are three nouns in the above given sentence.
Nouns are further divided into three categories:
PRONOUN
Words used in the place of noun are called as pronoun. Example- Muskan is a good girl.
She likes dancing.
In the above sentence she is a pronoun.
Pronouns are further classified as personal pronouns and relative pronouns.
Personal pronouns are used to represent person or things, e.g., I, you, she, he, we, him,
her, us, them.
Relative pronouns act as pronoun and conjunctions, e.g., whom, which, that.
Possessive pronouns show possession, e.g., mine, ours, yours, theirs, its and hers.
ADJECTIVES
Word used to describe the noun i.e a person, an animal, a place or thing is called as
adjective. Example, Shruti is a beautiful girl. The word beautiful here is called as
adjective.
Example: He gave me six books. (how many books?)
Here six is adjective.
VERB
A verb is a word which tells us about the person or things. A verb may tell us what a
person or thing does; Example- Ram sings
or what is done to a person or thing; Example- The door is broken
or what a person or thing is; Example- Ram is sad, The boy is hurt etc.
ADVERB
While adjectives add meaning to the nouns, adverbs add meaning to the verbs,
adjectives and prepositions in a sentence. Example:
Small investors find it very difficult to invest wisely.
In the above given sentence the word wisely add meaning to the verb invest, hence, it is
an adverb and word very adds meaning to the adjective difficult hence, it is an adverb.
PREPOSITION
There are hardly any rules for governing preposition, but the thumb-rule for presposition
is that sentences should read well. A wrong preposition can change the entire meaning,
hence, it is necessary to use them carefully.
Example- on, of, at, under, above, in, besides etc.
CONJUNCTION
Conjunctions are the words used to join the sentences. Example and, but etc.
Example: I like tea. I don’t like coffee.
I like tea but not coffee.
1.2
Conjunctions used in pairs like neither-nor, either-or, but-also etc are called as
correlative conjunctions.
INTERJCETIONS
Interjections are used to express the strong emotions or feelings. Example-Hi!, Alas!,
Hurray!, etc.
TYPES OF VOICES
Sentence can be written in active voice or passive voice. As a general rule, we should use
Active Voice in our sentences. Such sentences are shorter, direct and emphatic, e.g-
Follow the traffic rules, while driving.
However, passive voice is used when we want to emphasise the verb and object of a
sentence rather than object.
E.g. The traffic rules should be followed while driving.
ARTICLES
The words a or an and the are called Articles. The is called the Definite Article because
it normally points out some particular person or thing, e.g. He is the doctor with whom I
have consulted. A or an is called the Indefinite Article, because it does not point out
particular person or thing, e.g. There was a doctor sitting right next to me on the plane.
The article ‘an’ is used when the noun to which it is attached begins with a vowel
sound (a, e, i, o and u).
TENSES
The word tense comes from Latin word tempus, meaning time. Sentences can be in
present tense, past tense and future tense, which is further sub-divided into simple,
continuous, perfect and perfect continuous.
1.3
Present tense (draw the chart)
SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION
Sentence always consist of two parts; subject and predicate. The part which names the
person or thing we are speaking about is called the subject of the sentence.
A Phrase is a group of words, which neither has a finite verb nor makes any sense by
itself. It can be a noun, adjective or adverbial phrase.
1.4
A group of words that form a part of a sentence, and has a subject and a predicate of
its own, is called a clause. The clause that makes good sense by itself, and hence could
stand by itself, as a separate sentence is called a Principal or Main Clause.
A clause which cannot stand by itself and makes good sense but not complete sense
are called a Dependent or Subordinate Clause.
TYPES OF SENTENCES:
1. A sentence which has only one finite verb and one independent clause is called Simple
sentence. (ONE VERB + ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE)
2. A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses. (2 INDEPENDENT
CLAUSES)
3. A complex sentence has an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. (1
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + 1 DEPENDENT CLAUSE)
1.5
d. On the basis of length they can be classified as short sentences (easier to write and
understand) and long sentences (prone to grammatical errors and need careful thought
and planning).
PARAGRAPH CONTRSUCTION
Paragraph construction is also as important as sentence construction. If a good sentence
should focus on a single thought, a good paragraph should restrict itself to a single topic
or idea.
Sentence of a paragraph sums up the central idea and develops an understanding.
PREFIXES
If the affix or addition to the root word comes at the beginning, it is called a prefix.
Prefixes fall into following groups:
Supportive Prefixes:
Pro-choice, Pro-market, Pro-life
Negative Prefixes:
amoral, ahistorical, atheist, asymmetric, anaesthetic, anaemic,
anaerobic, disloyal, disable, disarm, dishonest, distrust,
disadvantage, inactive, inconsiderate, inconsonant, incomprehensible,
incomplete, incompetent, inconsecutive, illegal, illiterate, illegible,
illegitimate, imbalance, immaterial, immeasurable, immobile,
immovable, impassable, impatient, impossible,
imperfect.
Reversative Prefixes:
decriminalise, dehumidify, deselect, decontaminate, disqualify,
dishonest, disinvite, untie, unscramble, unlock.
1.6
Derivative Prefixes:
debug, defrost, disarm, disillusion, unleaded, unmark, unhouse,
uncap, uncover.
Pejorative Prefixes:
miscalculate, misgovern, misspell, mismanage, misalign, misapply,
misbelief.
Place Prefixes:
antecedent, antechamber, anteroom, circumvent, circumnavigate,
circumlocution, circumbulate, circumlunar, extracurricular,
extrasensory, extraordinary, extraterrestrial, indoors, in-patient,
inside, indebt, introvert, introspect, prearrange, preface,
precaution, prefabrication, preamble.
Size Prefixes:
megaphone, megastar, megalith, megawatt, minibus, miniseries,
minicab, minimarket.
Time Prefixes:
ex-wife, ex-president, ex-student, forenoon, foresee, foretell,
forecast, post-war, post-modernism, postdate, reprint, reapply,
replay, renew.
1.7
SUFFIXES
COMBINATION WORDS
Combination words are those words which are formed from a combination of two
existing words to form a new word.
PUNCTUATIONS
The marks, such as full stop, comma, inverted commas, hyphen and brackets are used in
writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning, are called
punctuation marks. It makes the meaning of a written passage clear and removes
ambiguities.
It serves following purposes:
Introducing delicate effects in style.
Altering the flow of a sentence.
1.8
Highlighting certain words.
Bringing about modulations in sentence.
1.9
amp (ampere), O (oxygen), H (Hydrogen)
- If a sentence ends with an exclamation mark or question mark, the full stop is not
used.
1.10
It is also used to link the starting and ending point of a series. Example- The Delhi-
Jaipur Highway.
To avoid confusion or ambiguity.
To prevent confusion between a new formation and a conventional word with the same
prefix. Example- re-creation (recreation), re-formed (reformed).
VII. Apostrophe (‘ )
Apostrophe is used either for marking omission of one or more characters, e.g- do not to
don’t, or for marking possessive case of nouns, e.g- In one month’s time you have to
submit your assignments, or for marking plural of individual characters, e.g- comma’s
etc.
1.11
IX. Crescent Brackets ( () )
These brackets are used to enclose an abbreviation that is be subsequently used in the
text, e.g. The Department of Company Affairs (DCA) issued a circular on the matter.,
to enclose a translation or equivalent expression, e.g. The agreement was void ab initio
(from the beginning), to enclose references from other topics in a text, e.g. As depicted
in (Fig. 1.1) it is obvious that the process of communication is quite complex.
1.12
LET’S TEST OUR KNOWLEDGE
Ans- to
Ans- with
Supposedly, digital voice discs, or DVDs as they are called, are _____ resistant to
scratching ____ records
(a) much / than
(b) so / as
(c) such / that
(d) far more / than
Ans- d
English is today the third ________ native language worldwide after Chinese and
Hindi, with some 380 million speakers.
(a) the most spoken
(b) the more spoken
1.13
(c) most spoken
(d) the least spoken
We all think that Maria ________ an interesting person to meet as we _______ a lot
of stories about her so far.
(a) is / had heard
(b) can be / heard
(c) might have been / hear
(d) would be / have heard
Ans- d
1.14
Mike has been told he will have to pay the fine ________ his high rank in the
military.
(a) even if
(b) furthermore
(c) on grounds that
(d) despite
Ans- despite
In the following sentence a part of the sentence may have an error. Find out which part
of the sentence has an error.
We got caught (a)/ in pouring rain (b)/ without either raincoats non umbrella (c)/ no
error (d)
Ans- c
1.15
2. ENRICHING VOCABULARY
I. CHOICE OF WORDS
The words you would choose to communicate with someone depend on the following
factors:
The range of your vocabulary - Unless you know a word, you would not be able to use it.
Your audience or person you are communicating with - Firstly, you must assess the
literacy level of the audience or person. Then try to find out what kind of situation you
are in - whether the audience or person is senior or junior to you; whether you are
formal or informal with them, etc., these considerations will help you greatly in the
choice of words.
Type of communication - Whether it is formal or informal, oral or written, these factors
will also influence your choice of words.
The message you intend to convey - The urgency, disappointment, the level of accuracy
required, etc. can also be conveyed through the apt words. Therefore, these too will
influence your choice of words.
Context and usage - Certain words can only be used in a particular context, and if they
are used otherwise, they would convey the wrong sense.
Regional or national differences in language or connotation also influence your choice of
words - ‘Liberal’ in Britain has a positive meaning. It means generous and open minded,
whereas in America it is used as a term of political abuse.
Improving Vocabulary - Try and understand the root/etymology of the words.
2.1
These are following tips that you should remember while choosing words:
SIMPLICITY
• Simple language produces the best and the quickest response from
everyone, though, at times, long and unusual words have to be used
because they are more precise
JARGON
• Jargon is language that is unique to a particular field of knowledge, e.g.,
science,technology, art, trade or a profession. There is for instance legal
jargon, military jargon, and political jargon.
2.2
II. SYNONYMS
Synonyms are words that have very nearly the same meaning, for example:
(i) easy, simple, light, effortless, facile, smooth.
(ii) effort, exertion, pains, trouble,
(iii) elastic, flexible, supple, springy, resilient.
Begin, commence, start and initiate, are all synonyms which mean ‘to set something
going or in progress’. Begin is the most common word, commence is used on formal
occasions, for court proceedings, religious and other ceremonies and military operations;
start suggests a setting out from a particular point on a journey, course, etc., often but
not necessarily after an action or waiting; initiate implies taking of the first step or
steps as in a process.
Examples:
WORD SYNONYM
Adept proficient, skilled
Abstain refrain, withhold
Abridge shorten, curtail
Abundant plentiful, ample, copious
Accessory additional, auxiliary
Achieve accomplish, execute, gain
Adept proficient, skilled
Adequate sufficient, satisfactory
Adherent follower, disciple
Admiration praise, approbation
Brisk lively, agile
Callous hard, unsympathetic
Cordial gracious, congenial
Captious censorious, hypercritical
Cogent valid, convincing
Deteriorate degenerate, decline
Dexterity skill, deftness
2.3
Didactic moralising, preach
Effete exhausted, worn-out
Ephemeral transient, short-lived
Extravagant excessive, wasteful
Fabricate concoct, contrive
Fatal deadly, disastrous
Fastidious messy, fussy
Gaiety festivity, merriment
Gigantic colossal, huge
Hazardous dangerous, risky
Inadvertent careless, unplanned, unintentional
Insidious astute, cunning
Judicious sensible, prudent, wise
Malice ill will, spite
Morbid morose, sickly
Negligent careless, lax
Obtuse dull, stupid, blunt
Onerous burdensome, oppressive
Panegyric eulogy, encomium
Penury want, poverty
Reticent silent, reserved
Ruinous destructive, wreckful
Sterile barren, infertile
Thrive prosper, flourish
Urbane cosmopolitan, suave, cultured
Wholesome healthy, sound, healing
Yearn crave, pine
Zenith summit, culmination
2.4
III. ANTONYMS
Antonym is a word opposite or contrary in meaning to another word.
Examples:
Word Antonym Word Antonym
Ability Inability Haste Slowness
Able Unable Hope Despair
Abnormal Normal Humble Proud
Accurate Inaccurate Idle Busy
Bankrupt Solvent Import Export
Economical Extravagant Inferior Superior
Diligent Dilatory/lazy Loud Quiet/Soft
Economical Extravagant Meager Plentiful
Emigrant Immigrant Narrow Broad
Explicit Implicit Native Foreign
Exit Entrance/Enter Omission Addition/Inclusion
Fact Fiction Oral Written
Flattery Criticism Original Duplicate
Flexible Rigid Outward Inward
Fresh Stale Peace War
Genuine Spurious Quick Slow
Growth Decline/Stagnation
IV. HOMONYMS
A homonym is a single word (with one spelling) that has more than one meaning.
Examples:
1. Address - Address
I can give you the address of a good attorney.
That letter was addressed to me.
2. Band - Band
The band was playing old Beatles songs.
She always ties her hair back in a band.
3. Bat - Bat
2.5
I am afraid of bats.
It’s his first time to bat in the major leagues.
4. Match - Match
If you suspect a gas leak do not strike a match or use electricity.
Her fingerprints match those found at the scene of the crime.
5. Mean - Mean
What does this sentence mean?
He needed to find a mean between frankness and rudeness.
6. Right - Right
I’m sure I’m right.
Take a right turn at the intersection.
V. HOMOPHONES
The word, homo, means “same,” and phone means “sound.” Homophones are two words
that sound the same, but have different meanings.
1. Access, Excess
Access : The workers could access the manager freely. (approach)
Excess : The production is far in excess to the target. (more than)
2. Advice, Advise
Advice is a noun the end-sound is-s. Anyone can offer advice.
Advise is a verb and the end sound is-z.
My father advised me to work hard.
3. Ate, Eight
Ate is the simple past tense of the verb “to eat.”
I ate an entire pizza and now I’m really full and tired.
Eight is noun, the number after seven and before nine. Charles will wake up at eight
o’clock tomorrow morning.
4. Bare, Bear
Bare (adjective): If something is bare, it means that it’s not covered or not decorated.
Tom likes to walk around his house in bare feet. He says it’s more comfortable than
wearing
shoes.
2.6
Bear (noun): A large mammal.
When you go camping, you should be careful to not leave any food or anything with a
scent in your tent because they can attract bears.
5. Cell, sell
Cell (noun): A cell is a small area or room, usually in a prison. A cell can also be one of
the smallest divisions of a living organism.
The prisoner spent 10 years in his cell .
To sell (verb): To exchange a product or service for money. Like “buy,” it was probably
one of the first verbs you learned.
We would like to sell our car, but we don’t think we’d get very much money for it.
2.7
achieve acheive
calendar calender
liaison liason
receipt reciept
tomorrow tommorow, tomorrow
2.8
X. IDIOMS AND PHRASES
1. Beat back (compelled to retreat). The firemen were beaten back by the flames and the
building was reduced to ashes.
2. Boil down to (to amount to) His entire argument boiled down to the fact that he would
not join the movement unless he saw some monetary gain in it.
3. Cast aside (to reject, to throw aside) People normally cast aside truth and honesty for
immediate gains.
4. Cut off with a shilling (to give someone a mere trifle in the will) The father was so
angry with the son over his marriage that he cut him off with a shilling.
5. Gloss over (to ignore) Even if you are an important person your faults cannot be glossed
over.
6. Labour under (to suffer from some disadvantage or distress) Let us not labour under
the delusion that our friends will come to our aid in times of difficulty.
7. Play off against (to set one party against another for one’s own advantage). It best
serves the interests of the super powers to play off one poor nation against another.
8. Pull one through (to recover, to help one recover) Armed with the latest medicines, the
doctor will pull him through.
9. Cast a slur upon (by word or act cast a slight reproach on someone) Many a men cast a
slur on their own good name by some mean act.
10. To catch a Tartar (to encounter a strong adversary) When Hitler marched on to Russia
he hardly knew that he would catch a Tartar in the tough people of that country.
11. To cut the Gordian knot (to remove a difficulty by bold or unusual measures) The Indian
Parliament threw out the Bill for Abolition of Privy Purses. The Government cut the
Gordian knot by abolishing the purses through a Presidential Ordinance.
12. To fall to someone’s lot (to become someone’s responsibility) It has fallen to the lot of
the eldest brother to pay off the debts of the father.
13. To get the upper hand or to get the better of (to prevail over) Hari got the better of
Suresh in the Degree Examination.
14. To give someone the slip (to dodge someone who is looking for you) The police had
nearly arrested the dacoits when the latter gave them the slip and hid himself in the
Chambal ravines.
2.9
15. A give and take policy (a policy of mutual concessions) A give and take policy alone can
restore peace between India and Pakistan.
16. To go to rack and ruin (reach a state of despair through neglect) If a big war comes,
our economy will go to rack and ruin.
17. To have a bone to pick with (to have a difference with a person that has not yet been
fully expressed) The extreme leftists have a bone to pick with the police and if ever
they come to power.
18. To have the whip hand (to have a position of power or control) Even after the split in
the party he has the whip hand in the party.
19. To have too many irons in the fire (to have so much work in hand that some part of it
is either left undone or done very badly) His performance is poor because he has too
many irons in the fire.
20. To have the right ring (to be genuine) The Americans’ pronouncements of world peace
do not usually have the right ring.
21. To have an axe to grind (have personal interests to serve) Bigger nations supply arms to
the smaller ones primarily because the former has their own axe to grind.
22. To keep a thing to oneself, to keep one’s own counsel (to be silent about one’s
intentions) A great leader must ultimately keep his own counsel.
23. To keep the wolf from the door (to keep away extreme poverty and hunger) Lakhs of
people in India still have to fight daily to keep the wolf from the door.
24. To make short work of (to bring to sudden end) The locusts made short work of the
standing ripe corn.
25. To make amends (to compensate or make up for a wrong doing) By being polite today,
he has made amends for his past insolence.
26. To make common cause (to unite in order to achieve a shared aim) During the elections
the princes made a common cause with the rightist parties. Both went down.
27. To make a virtue of necessity (Pretend or believe that something which one is obliged
to do or accept is good for one’s character, moral development, etc.) When a Minister
knows that he is going to be booted out of the cabinet he makes a virtue of necessity
and resigns ‘on health grounds’.
28. To make much ado about nothing (to make a great fuss about a trifle) Crying over the
loss of ten rupees is really making much ado about nothing.
2.10
29. To make a cat’s paw or a tool of someone (to use someone as a means of achieving
one’s goal)
30. The super powers have made a cat’s paw of the smaller nations of Asia in their game of
power politics.
31. To put the cart before the horse (reverse the proper order or procedure) Preparing the
blue print of a project without analysing market potential is like putting the cart before
the horse.
32. To rise to the occasion (show the daring, imagination etc., which fits a particular
occasion) A flood threatened to burst the reservoir but the villagers rose to the occasion
and did not relax till they had made all secure.
33. To set store on (to consider to be of a particular degree of importance) India did set
much store on the Indo Soviet Treaty of friendship.
34. To set one’s own house in order (to arrange one’s affairs harmoniously) Let Pakistan
set his own house in order before talking about the welfare of the Kashmiris.
XI. PROVERBS
1. Hope springs eternal in the human breast (one never loses hope).
2. Better late than never.
3. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. (Said of reckless persons).
4. There is no fool like an old fool. (An aged lover).
5. A fool and his money are soon parted.
6. Example is better than precept. (Precept means moral instruction).
7. He who pays the piper calls the tune. (One has to act according to the wishes of
one’s master).
8. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. (Said of something impossible).
9. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
10. Birds of a feather flock together. (People of like character come together).
11. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
12. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. (What is good for one may be harmful for
another person).
13. Out of the frying pan into the fire. (From one trouble to another bigger trouble).
14. It never rains but pours.
2.11
15. The last straw breaks the camel’s back. (The smallest addition to an already heavy
task or burden makes it intolerable).
16. Fore-warned is fore-armed. (A prior warning should prepare one for the contingency).
17. To err is human; to forgive, divine.
18. Out of sight, out of mind. (Once you lose sight of a thing, you forget it altogether).
19. Distance lends enchantment to the view. (Things look nice and beautiful when they
are not within reach).
20. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. (Be revengeful).
21. Haste makes waste.
22. Look before you leap. (Do not be reckless and impulsive).
23. Make hay while the sun shines. (To make full use of the given opportunity).
24. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. (There can be no choice about things given in
charity or gift).
25. Beggars can’t be choosers.
26. Nearer the Church, the farther from God. (The more opportunities you have the less
you benefit from them).
27. Two heads are better than one.
28. None but the brave deserve the fair.
29. All is well that ends well.
30. To rob Peter to pay Paul. (To harm one person [or side] in order to benefit the
other).
31. Rome was not built in a day. (Things take time to complete and to mature).
32. One swallow does not make a summer.
33. You can’t have the cake and eat it too.
34. Every man for himself and God for us all.
35. To hit the nail on the head.
XII. ABBREVIATIONS
An abbreviation is a short way of writing a word or a phrase that could also be written
out in full. The word “abbreviation” comes from the Latin word abbreviate (to shorten)
which is related to brevi (short).
2.12
Abbreviations are very rarely used in formal writing. Frequent use of unnecessary
abbreviations makes the text irritating and complex to read.
The rule about using these abbreviations is very simple: don’t use them. Their use is
only appropriate in special circumstances.
Types of Abbreviations:
1. The first letters of two/three words or names are used to form an abbreviation. For
example: M.A. (Master of Arts).
2. Acronyms are words formed from the initial letters of other words. For example: UNICEF
(United Nations International Children Emergency Fund), FICCI (Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and Industry).
3. the first and last letters of a single word. For example: Mr./Mr (Mister), Dr./Dr (Doctor).
4. Scientific terms. For example- kg, m, ft.
5. Chemical symbols. For example- Ca (Calcium), H (Hydrogen), NaCl (Sodium Chloride),
H2O (Water).
LATIN ABBREVIATIONS
1. etc. et cetera. : “And so on.” This is one abbreviation most students already know. Note
that, since etc. already means and, it is redundant to write, “and etc.”
2.13
2. i.e. id est. : “That is more precisely.” It is commonly used to refine a general statement
or provide additional information. Eg : “Karan’s wife always managed to turn the
conversation toward job, i.e., the possibility of working after marriage.
3. sic : Indicates a misspelling or error in a quoted source, in order to verify to the reader
that the researcher did not create a typographical error, but instead exactly reproduces
the way the word or statement appeared in the original material. Eg : There are,
according to the writings of seven-year old Mohit, “Manee wayes of riting words” [sic].
4. Ph. D. Philosophiae Doctor. : “Doctor (or Doctorate) of Philosophy.” It can refer to the
individual as a title, or to the degree itself. Note that it is redundant to write, “Dr.
Aggarwal is a Ph. D.”. Eg : “Vijay Aggarwal earned his Ph. D. in art history.”
5. vs. versus. : “Turned against.” Often used in abbreviations for legal trials-though “v.” is
more common. Eg : “In the case of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court eventually decided
that abortion was a medical right.”
6. a.v. ad valorem. : “In proportion to the value of [something else].”, “To the value.” Eg :
“The monetary worth of the rupee is figured a.v. the price of gold.”
i.a. in absentia. : “In absence.” Eg : “With further evidence i.a., it is impossible to
provide a definitive answer.”
2.14
LET’S TEST OUR KNOWLEDGE
1. Choose the word which is similar in meaning to the keyword given in capital letters
CONFERRED
(a) Offered
(b) Divulged
(c) Damaged
(d) Advised
Ans-a
2. Choose the word which is opposite in meaning to the keyword given in capital letters
INCLEMENT
(a) Pleasant
(b) Stormy
(c) Feeble
(d) Dignified
Ans-a
3. Pick the most effective word from the given words to fill in the blank to make the
sentence meaningfully complete
The proud king turned a deaf ear to the ____ of wise counsellors.
(a) Advices
(b) Advises
(c) Advise
(d) Advice
Ans-a
2.15
(a) Rescue; Destroy
(b) Encourage; Defy
(c) Aggravate; Alleviate
(d) Empower; Improve
Ans- b
5. Use one word substitution for: A contagious disease which spreads over a huge area.
(a) Atheist
(b) Flora
(c) Epidemic
(d) Hangar
Ans- c
In each of the following question, a related pair of words or phrases is followed by four
lettered pairs of words or phrases. Select the lettered pair that best expresses a
relationship similar to the one expressed in the original pair.
6. Lying: Perjury
(a) Statement: Testimony
(b) Seeing : Observing
(c) Taking: Stealing
(d) Eating: Dining
Ans- a
7. Subsequent: Previous
(a) Significant: Inconsequential
(b) Retrospect: Retrospective
(c) Visionary: Seer
(d) Caption: Legend
2.16
Ans- a
Ans- d
9. Sporadic
(a) epidemic
(b) whirling
(c) occasional
(d) stagnant
Ans- c
Select the correct meaning of the italicized idioms and phrases out of the four choices
given.
10. He burnt his fingers by interfering in his neighbour’s affair.
(a) got himself into trouble
(b) burnt himself
(c) got himself insulted
(d) got rebuked
Ans- a
11. For the first week, the apprentice felt like a fish out of water.
(a) frustrated
(b) homeless
(c) disappointed
(d) uncomfortable
Ans- d
Given below are few commonly used foreign language phrases, select the correct answer
from the four options given below:
12. Mala fide
(a) generous
(b) bad intention
(c) trustworthy
(d) genuine
Ans- b
Ans- a
2.18
3. COMPREHENSION OF PASSAGE AND ART OF SUMMARISING
I. COMPREHENSION OF PASSAGE
1. IMPORTANT STRATEGY TO SOLVE COMPREHENSION PASSAGES
Read the passage as fast as possible
Get thoroughly involved with the paragraph to understand it.
Underline important lines of the passage to understand the main idea of the passage or
tone of the author, which also helps to answer the questions.
Try to translate a complex line in your own words as it helps in analysing the main idea
of the paragraph.
Underline or mark keywords as it helps you to discover logical connection between the
passage and help in understanding better.
In order to understand the unfamiliar words read the line thoroughly, the theme of the
line will make you understand the meaning of the words.
Do not assume anything on the basis of your personal belief.
Always look back at the paragraph when in doubt.
Read the questions and all the alternatives provided and choose the most appropriate
one.
2. THINGS TO REMEMBER
1. Find the central idea in the passage:
It is important to get an overall understanding of the passage and to mentally make a
note about the category it belongs to.
From the first five lines of the paragraph the topic becomes obvious.
With the help of this, when you solve the questions, it becomes easier to eliminate
options that are, in a way, not consistent with the central theme of the passage.
2. Focus on Details:
Sometimes the questions asked in comprehension are related to specific details in the
passage. . In such a situation, questions are often direct and can be easily attempted.
However, to do this, one must be able to sort such details of the passage without
wasting too much time on skimming or reading the passage again. So, it is advisable to
note down some points that may feel important to you. You can do this while reading
the passage.
3.1
You will get a better hold of what is important and what is not as you practice more.
3. Logical structure:
Sometimes, questions are asked about the passage. For example- “What should be the
most apt title for the passage?
These questions can become very easy if you have a good understanding of the passage.
3. REQUISITE SKILLS
LOGICAL ABILITY
FLUENCY
INFERENCE POWER
ANALYTICAL ABILITY
REASONING ABILITY
READING SPEED
VOCABULARY POWER
3.2
4. KEY TAKEAWAYS
Analytical ability, fluency and vocabulary skills are key to reading comprehension.
Being able to connect ideas within and between sentences helps in understanding the
whole text.
Reading aloud and talking about experiences can help build reading skills.
Reading speed should be fast in order to scan and skim to summarise the major points
of the passage.
Paying attention while reading allows taking in more information from the text and
working memory allows them to hold on to that information and use it to gain meaning.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
3.3
other hand, in practice the law of the jungle prevailed in the form of free competition
and the survival of the fittest.
3.4
(d) The sign of innocence.
g. What does the policy of “Laissez Faire” stand for?
(a) Individual freedom in the economics field
(b) State control over law and order in society
(c) Joint control of the means of production by the state and private enterprise
(d) Decontrol over law and order by the ruling class.
h. Which of the following describes the writer?
(a) Concerned
(b) Unconcerned
(c) Aggressive
(d) Frustrated
i. Choose the correct synonym out of the four choice given:
Gospels
(a) Chitchat
(b) A teaching or doctrine of a religious teacher
(c) Rumour
(d) Guidance.
j. Choose the correct synonym out of the four choices given:
Vogue
(a) Uncertain
(b) Out-dated
(c) The prevailing fashion or style
(d) Journey.
ANSWERS:
1. B
2. B
3. D
4. B
5. C
6. A
3.5
7. A
8. A
9. B
10. c
2. India loses grain crops worth crores of rupees every year because of pests. In fact, the
increased food production made possible by modern technology and agricultural research
would become more evident if farmer is able to effectively combat the various pests
and insects that destroy crops. While some of the crops are destroyed after harvesting,
a large quantity of grains is destroyed in the fields. True that Indian farmer today is
better able to combat these destroyers of grains, for he made available to him better
storing facilities for the harvested crops, and modern chemical aid like insecticides with
which he may spray the growing crops in his fields. But, one has to remember that not
all insects are harmful. The common earthworms, for instance, is a friend of man,
because it works like a dustman by breaking up the dead leaves and wood from plants
and mixes them with the soil, thus making the soil richer. Therefore, when a farmer
sprays his field with chemicals that kills insects, he destroys his friends with his
enemies.
3.6
(c) He fertilizers the soil
(d) He decreases his food productions
d. The common earthworm:
(a) Is the greatest destroyer of crops
(b) Reduces the grain to dust
(c) Breaks up the leaves on the crop
(d) Makes the soil more rich
e. After harvesting what the farmer needs is:
(a) A good supply of seeds
(b) Ability to combat the weather
(c) A safe place for storage
(d) A lot of chemical fertilizers
ANSWERS
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. D
5. c
3. Although the legal systems of England and the United States are superficially similar,
they differ profoundly in their approaches to and uses of legal reasons: substantive
reasons are more common than formal reasons in the United States, whereas in England
the reverse is true. This distinction reflects a difference in the visions of law that
prevails in the two countries. In England, the law has traditionally been viewed as a
system of rules; the United States favours a vision of law as an outward expression of
community’s sense of right and justice.
Substantive reasons, as applied to law, are based on moral, economic, political and other
considerations. These reasons are found both “in the law” and “outside the law” so to
speak. Substantive reasons inform the content of a large part of the law: constitutions,
statutes, contracts, verdicts, and the like. Consider, for example, a statute providing or
purposes were explicitly written into the statute was to ensure quiet and safety in the
3.7
park. Now suppose that a veterans’ group mounts a World War II jeep (in running order
but without a battery) as a war memorial on a concrete slab in the park, and charges
are brought against its members. Most judges in the United
States would find the defendants not guilty because what they did had no adverse
effect on park’s quiet and safety.
Formal reasons are different in that they frequently prevent substantive reasons from
coming into play, even when substantive reasons are explicitly incorporated into the law
at hand. For example, when a document fails to comply with stipulated requirements,
the court may render the document legally ineffective. A Will requiring written witness
may be declared null and void and, therefore, unenforceable for the formal reason that
the requirement was not observed. Once the legal rule-
that a Will is invalid for lack of proper witnessing - has been clearly established, and
the legality of the rule is not in question, application of that rule precludes from
consideration substantive arguments in favour of the Will’s validity or enforcement.
Legal scholars in England and the United States have long bemused themselves with
extreme examples of formal and substantive reasoning. On the one hand, formal
reasoning in England has led to wooden interpretations of statutes and unwillingness to
develop the common law through judicial activism. On the other hand, freewheeling
substantive reasoning in the United States has resulted in statutory interpretations so
liberal that the texts of some statutes have been ignored.
a. Which one of the following best describes the content of the passage as a whole?
(a) An analysis of similarities and differences between the legal systems of England
and the United States
(b) A re-evaluation of two legal systems with the use of examples
(c) A contrast between the types of reasons embodied in the United States and
English legal systems
(d) An explanation of how two distinct visions of the law shaped the development of
legal reasoning
b. It can be inferred from the passage that English judges would like to find the veterans’
group discussed in the second paragraph guilty of violating the statute because
(a) not to do so would encourage others to act as the group did
3.8
(b) not to do so would be to violate the substantive reasons underlying the law
(c) the veterans failed to comply with the substantive purpose of the statute
(d) the veterans failed to comply with the stipulated requirements of the statute
c. From the discussion on Wills in the third paragraph it can be inferred that substantive
arguments as to the validity of a Will might be considered under which one of the
following circumstances?
(a) The legal rule that a Will be witnessed in writing does not stipulate the formal of
the
(b) The legal rule requiring that a Will be witnessed stipulates that the Will must be
witnessed in writing by two people
(c) The legal rule requiring that a Will be witnessed in writing stipulates that the
witnessing must be done in the presence of a judge
(d) A judge rules that the law can be interpreted to allow for a verbal witness to Will
in a case involving a medical emergency
d. Which one of the following best describes the function of the last paragraph of the
passage?
(a) It presents the consequences of extreme interpretations of the two types of legal
reasons discussed by the author
(b) It shows how legal scholars can incorrectly use extreme examples to support their
views
(c) It corrects inaccuracies in legal scholars’ view of the nature of two types of legal
systems
(d) It suggests how characterizations of the two types of legal reasons can become
convoluted and inaccurate
e. The author of the passage suggests that in English law a substantive interpretation of a
legal rule might be warranted under which one of the following circumstances
(a) Social conditions have changed to the extent that to continue to enforce the rule
would be to decide contrary to present-day social norms
(b) The composition of the legislature has changed to the extent that to enforce the
rule would be contrary to the views of the majority in the present legislative assembly
(c) The legality of the rule is in question and its enforcement is open to judicial
interpretation
3.9
(d) Individuals who have violated the legal rule argue that application of the rule would
lead to unfair judicial interpretations
f. The author of the passage makes use of all of the following in presenting the discussion
of the English and the United States legal systems except
(a) Comparison and contrast
(b) Generalisation
(c) Explication of terms
(d) A chronology of historical developments
ANSWERS
1. C
2. D
3. D
4. A
5. C
6. D
3.10
c. The people from both the backgrounds find it very difficult to establish and manage
an enterprise.
d. Starting up and managing a small business is no joke.
(a) d b c a
(b) b a c d
(c) d a c b
(d) c d a b.
Ans- c
2. Choose the most logical order of sentences from among the given choice to construct a
coherent paragraph.
a. venture capital is recommended as the ideal source of financing for a successfully
small business.
b. Several companies including start-ups have been funded by dedicated venture funds
during this decade.
c. Despite this, an average Indian entrepreneur understands and appreciation of venture
capital concept has been woefully inadequate.
d. In the Indian context, though venture capital has been a relatively late entrant, if
has already made a reasonable impact.
(a) a b c d
(b) a d b c
(c) a c b d
(d) a d c b
Ans- b
3. Choose the most logical order of sentences from among the given choice to construct a
coherent paragraph.
a. Progress in diagnosis, in preventive medicine and in treatment, both medicinal
and surgical, has been rapid and breath taking.
3.11
b. Much in medicine which is not taken for granted was undreamt of even as
recently as 20 years ago.
c. Presently small pox has been eradicated, poliomyelitis practically banished,
tuberculosis has become curable and coronary artery disease surgically relievable.
d. The dramatic surge in the field of molecular biology and research by
immunologists and geneticists has succeeded in controlling parasitic disease like malaria
and river blindness that affect millions of people round the world.
(a) b d c a
(b) b a c d
(c) b c a d
(d) b d a c
Ans- d
4. Choose the most logical order of sentences from among the given choice to construct a
coherent paragraph.
a. Instead, many deaths and injuries result from failing objects and the collapse of
buildings, bridges and other structures.
b. Earthquakes almost never kill people directly.
c. Fire resulting from broken gas or power lines is another major danger during a quake.
d. Spills hazardous chemicals are also a concern during an earthquake.
(a) c a b d
(b) d a c b
(c) d c a b
(d) b a c d
Ans-d
5. Choose the most logical order of sentences from among the given choice to construct a
coherent paragraph.
a. The Winchester or hard disk drives can store much more data than what can be
stored on a floppy diskette.
3.12
b. Hard disks come sealed and they cannot be removed or changed likes floppy
diskettes.
c. Often floppy disk system is used in conjunction with the Winchester disk system.
d. This makes for an ideal system for secondary storage.
(a) c a b d
(b) c b d a
(c) b a c d
(d) a b e d
Ans-d
Ans-b
3.13
2. One or more of the sentence(s) is/are grammatically incorrect. You have to identify the
incorrect sentence(s).
(I) There are two main reasons for that predatory mood.
(II) Having established a domestic presence, the component makers are now looking
for an international presence.
(III) Second, having improved their productivity, quality and reliability, Indian
companies feel more confident about spreading their wings abroad.
(IV) Various other factors are being attributed to this Indian penchant for the
takeover game in all sectors.
(a) I only
(b) I and II
(c) II only
(d) III and IV
Ans- a
3. One or more of the sentence(s) is/are grammatically incorrect. You have to identify the
incorrect sentence(s).
(I) Moving one by one step away from the expected with the graphics and
photography can also create reader’s interest.
(II) Try using a conceptual image or photo to highlight your main message versus very
first thing to come to mind when thinking about your product of services.
(III) Another form of contrast is in the actual design.
(IV) An unusual fold in a brochure or direct mail piece can add excitement.
(a) I and II
(b) II and III
(c) I and IV
(d) No error
Ans- a
3.14
4. One or more of the sentence(s) is/are grammatically incorrect. You have to identify the
incorrect sentence(s).
(I) The typeface that you choose for your print project is an important piece of the
foremost overall design process.
(II) First, narrow down your choice by selecting the tone you want to present.
(III) Typefaces can convey personality.
(IV) For instance, if you are in the banking industry you might choose a classic serif
font, such as Garamond, to convey dependability.
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) III only
(d) IV only
Ans-a
5. One or more of the sentence(s) is/are grammatically incorrect. You have to identify the
incorrect sentence(s).
(I) Readability is crucial.
(II) Be sure of the font we choose is legible and logical.
(III) With all of the newest and interesting typefaces available today, it is tempting to
pick one that you think looks “cool”.
(IV) This can work if you are going for an edgy look that will appeal to a young
audience, but your copy still needs to be easily understood.
(a) I and IV
(b) II only
(c) III only
(d) II and III
Ans-d
3.15
IV. SENTENCE ARRANGEMENT
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. For the government at the Centre gearing (A) / the pressure to check fuel prices is
intensifying (B) / up for several Assembly elections this (C) / year followed by the
general election in 2019,(D)
(a) ACDB
(b) ABDC
(c) BDCA
(d) CDAB
Ans- a
2. Companies viable since most of the foreign acquisitions by Indian companies (A)/ the
world are calculated on the basis of net present value and probable reserves. (B) are
done through loans taken abroad, and valuation of the oil assets all over (C)/ the rise in
oil prices makes takeovers of oil blocks by Indian oil and natural gas (D)/
(a) DCBA
(b) DACB
(c) ADCB
(d) No rearrangement required
Ans- b
3. Opted for a hike in key interest rates by 25 basis points (A) / at the end of an
unusually long three-day meeting, (B) / which is the first such increase in four and a
half years (C) / the Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India (D)
(a) CBDA
(b) BACD
(c) BDAC
(d) No rearrangement required
Ans-c
3.16
4. Of higher education because in addition to large-scale (A)/ state universities remain
centralin the entire structure (B)/ on-campus enrolment they grant affiliation and
thereby administer(C)/ and control a large network of colleges in their respective
jurisdictions.(D)
(a) BCDA
(b) BACD
(c) ADCB
(d) No rearrangement required
Ans- b
Ans-a
V. SENTENCE COMPLETION
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Unless he …………. this office , I will not say anything.
(a) Left
(b) Did not leave
(c) Leaves
(d) Had left
Ans-c
3.17
2. …………, I would help all the poor people.
(a) If I am rich
(b) If I was rich
(c) If I were rich
(d) In case I am rich.
Ans-c
Ans-a
Ans-an
Ans- b
3.18
6. He told us that we should never live beyond ……… means.
(a) His
(b) Their
(c) Our
(d) Her
Ans-c
Ans- d
8. Known as devout and serious person, she also has …….. sense of humour.
(a) Better
(b) Quick
(c) Good
(d) Beautiful
Ans- c
Ans-c
3.19
10. We ….. our work before the guests arrived at our house.
(a) Shall finish
(b) Have finished
(c) Had finished
(d) Shall have finished.
Ans-c
3.20
4. BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
I. CONCEPT OF COMMUNICATION AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATION
Communication has been derived from the Latin word communis which means to share.
Communication is an exchange of information from one person to another through
systems, symbols and signs, but it is a two way process. There has to be one sender
and one receiver to complete the communication.
Goal of communication is to make the receiver understand the message as it was
intended.
Business Communication:- when one communicates to transact same commercial
activity, that is providing goods or services, with the intention of generating profits it is
termed as business communication.
4.1
III. IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION
1. Increase in size: Since, business firms have grown in scale of operations it is necessary
to maintain an efficient system of communication to carry out its activities
Successfully.
2. Growing specialisation: Since, different works are being handled by different
department; good communication is essential for mutual cooperation and understanding
among different departments.
3. Cut-throat competition: Communication in the form of advertisements, personal
contacts and publicity has become very important due to severe competition.
4. Trade Union Movement: Regular exchange of information is essential between manager
and union officials to maintain healthy relations with each other.
5. Human Relations: To develop trust and confidence, communication between manager and
employee is essential.
6. Public Relations: A business has to maintain public relations to improve image in the
society and has to keep Government and authorities well informed with respect t o its
contribution to the society.
7. Personal Asset: Communication skill is essential for success in every job as every
manager is required to give speeches, conduct interviews etc.
4.2
5. Decode: The message sent by the sender is required to be interpreted by the receiver as
intended, though due to different perceptions of two different people the receiver may
not sometimes exactly understand the intentions of the sender.
6. Feedback: The response of the receiver to the message of the sender is called as
feedback. It helps the sender to know if his message has been interpreted correctly.
7. Noise: Sometimes due to noise, distortion in sound or faulty channel medium the process
of communication may be hampered. Besides this, sender’s attitude, frame of mind, use
of wrong tone or receiver’s background, prejudices may affect the communication.
4.3
THE SEVEN C’s OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION:
COMPLE
TENESS
CLARITY CONCISE
NESS
CONCRETE
NESS
CONSIDE COURTE
RATION SY
CORREC
TNESS
1. Clarity: A communication should be clear so that the recipient can understand what the
sender really wants to communicate. These tips can be followed for making conversation
clear:
Pick brief, acquainted and effortless words
Pick conversational words rather than poetic
Grammatical construction of paragraphs
Providing illustrations or case laws
Staying away from techie words
4.4
3. Conciseness: Communication should be made with least possible words. Concise
communication has following features:
4. Concreteness: Communication should be clear rather than fuzzy and general. It has
following features:
Supported with specific facts and figures
Makes use of words that are clear and build the reputation
These messages are not misinterpreted
5. Courtesy: The sender of the message should be sincerely polite, judicious, reflective and
enthusiastic. It has following features:
Both viewpoints as well as feelings of the receiver should be considered
It is positive and focused at the audience
Not at all biased
4.5
7. Consideration of Receiver: Effective communication must take the audience into
consideration. It should consist of following features:
Emphasize on you approach
Empathize with the audience
Show optimism towards the audience
Apart from the above given principles, these are few guidelines to ensure effective
communication:
1. Choose the right means and mode: It is important to choose the right means and mode
of communication depending on the organisation, its size, policy etc.
2. Own your messages: It is important to take responsibility of what we say.
3. Offer complete and relevant information: Messages must offer complete and relevant
information in order to become effective. Incomplete information makes it necessary to begin another
cycle of communication to issue clarifications. For example, it is not enough to just say that the register
will remain closed from 28th to 30th March. It does not become clear to the receiver which register we
are talking about and why it will be closed. Our message must state clearly that the register of
shareholders will remain closed in order to determine the names of the shareholders entitled to receive
the dividend.
4. Obtain feedback: Feedback is the culmination of the communication-process and it confirms that the
receiver has correctly understood our message.
5. Think of the recipient: It is necessary to think of the recipient while sending a
message, for example A doctor may discuss a case with a specialist in medical terms but switches
over to a layman’s language when talking to the patient
6. Verbal and non-verbal congruence: Meanings are often communicated in two ways. For
example our words and gestures simultaneously send out signals.
7. Repeat if necessary: Repetition is generally avoided in order to save time and space. However, in
exceptional circumstances, repetition ensures that the crucial part of the message is not ignored or
overlooked
8. Do not judge: Unfavourable judgments provoke reactions and are better avoided.
4.6
9. Rely on facts: Facts lend credibility to our communication since it is not possible to prove them
incorrect. However, while it is not possible to exclude opinions from our messages, we can make them
acceptable by quoting facts in their support.
Adjectives selected by participants but not by any of their peers is placed in façade
quadrant, which represents the traits of which they are aware but not their peers.
Example, I know I love vanilla ice-cream but it is not known by others. (also called as
hidden quadrant)
Adjectives not selected by participants but are selected by their peers are placed in
Blind Spot Quadrant, which represents information of which participant is not aware
but others are. Example, I have a dust particle on my face which I am not aware of but
my peers are.
4.7
JOHARI WINDOW
Known To Self Not known to self
Known
to
others Blind Spot
Arena
Not-
Known
to Facade Unknown
others
Internal communication:
When people communicate within the organisation to one another, it is called as internal
communication. It can be official or unofficial. A good example is grapevine.
Most likely visual communication used in internal communication is slides, internet
without use of multi-media and pager.
Internet with multi-media, video-conferencing and presentations are modes of audio-
visual communication that can be used for internal communication.
All modes of non-verbal communication can be used for internal communication.
Other than radio all other forms of communication, like newsletter, staff letter, memo,
report, email etc. can be used for internal communication.
External Communication
When people in the organisation communicate with anyone outside the organisation, like
clients, customers, authorities, bodies etc., it is termed as external communication.
Tender documents, Brochure and Service Calls are all external modes of communication.
Circulars, Charts, Emails, Press Release, Invitation, Leaflet/Brochure/Manuals, Telegrams
etc., are some mode of written communication.
4.8
Other than Intercom, Dictation, Tele-conferencing, brainstorming sessions and
Grapevine, all other forms of oral communication can be used in external communication.
Downward Flow:
All decisions are taken at the
Upward Flow
top and communicated to the
workers. Workers feel involved in the
This creates authoritarian organisation and participate
atmosphere, message is often in the management.
distorted and consumes a lot
of time leading to delays
Horizontal Flow
Diagonal Flow
Communication flow takes
Communication usually
place between the same
takes place between two
status/ level of heirarchy in
departments
the organisation
a) Written
b) Oral
c) Visual
d) Audio-visual
4.9
A. VERBAL COMMUNICATION
It is a written or spoken message that uses words to exchange ideas/ information.
1. Written Communication: it may involve drafting of following-
Advantages Disadvantages
Allows sufficient time for planning Takes time to compose a message and it is
expensive
To display what we have written, Inadequacies can be revealed only when the
various recent trends can be used reply arrives
Use of headings and bullets helps to Suffers from lack of congruence with non-
present better verbal communication
4.10
Advantages Disadvantages
4. Audio-Visual Communication: This mode aims at stimulating the senses of both sight
and hearing simultaneously and enhances effectiveness of message.
electronic presentation
4.11
B. NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
It is an unspoken or written message that uses body language. It includes:
4.12
XI. MEDIUMS OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATION
• Method of creating, sending, storing messages over an electronic
communication system.
• It is similar to email but in this case an instant messaging software is installed on the
Instant computer which sets-up a contact loist of people with whom one wants to contact.
Messaging • It lets you know who is online and available to chat
• These are hand-held computer devices that can perform a number of things like
PDA receiving mails, sending and receiving audio etc.
• It is an online discussion group where people can join a group and post messages
Forums or
Newsgrou • The group can be private or publi
ps
• Is a form of online journal that allows text, images and video clips to be displayed as a
webpage and allows comments by readers of the blogs.
Blog (web
logs) • It contains information about a particular topic like food, travel etc.
• It has been sround since 2005 and allows users to receive calls on their computers
Skype dialled by regular phone subscribers.
4.13
XII. COMMUNICATION NETWORK
The pattern of contacts among the members of the organisation and flow of
information among them is communication network.
Network helps the managers to establish contacts in different patterns through
communication flows.
4. Wheel Network:
Each subordinate receives a command from a single authority or
superior
5. Star Network: All member of group communicate with each other and exchange
information.
This network channel of communication is open to all members of the
group.
4.14
XIII. BARRIERS TO COMMMUNICATION AND WAYS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO
COMMUNICATION
1. Lack of planning: before conveying a message one needs to be consider the limitations
of medium through which the communication is being made, attributes of the receiver
and own ability to express the message, else the desired result will not be achieved.
2. False Assumptions: usually before communication, sender starts making assumptions
which might not be true.
3. Ambiguity: receiver may not understand the intentions of the sender and the purpose of
communication might fail.
4. Distortions: usually while the sender believes that he has delivered the message
correctly and the desired action will be followed, the truth may be that the receiver
might not have understood it at all or may have understood in parts.
5. Passing Judgements: many communications fail because they try to make a judgement
against the receiver.
6. Implied meanings: messages may not always convey a straightforward meaning and in
such cases receiver may not uncover the meaning implied by the sender.
7. Lack of Trust: if there is a lack of trust between sender and receiver there is a great
possibility that there might be a communication failure.
8. Problem of Semantic Distortion: there are words that mean different meanings to
different people and cause deliberate- distortions.
4.15
WAYS TO OVERCOME THE BARRIERS OF COMMUNICATION
CONSISTENCY OF MESSAGE
FOLLOW UP COMMUNICATION
BE A GOOD LISTENER
4.16
LET’S TEST OUR KNOWLEDGE
2. When words are used in communication, either spoken or written, this kind of
communication is known as:
(a) Verbal communication
(b) Non-verbal communication
(c) Upward communication
(d) Downward communication
4. The channel of communication which is mostly associated with gossip and rumours is
called:
(a) Formal communication
(b) Grapevine
(c) Social gatherings
(d) Upward communication
4.17
Ans- Grapevine
6. The word communication has been derived from the word communis which
means_______
a) To care
b) To share
c) To provide information
d) Provide ideas
Ans- To share
Ans- Feedback
4.18
(c) Psychology, sociology, Physiology and ecology
(d) Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology and Biology
Ans- A
10. Adjectives selected by both the participants and his peers are placed in _____
quadrant:
(a) Arena
(b) Blind
(c) unknown
(d) Façade
Ans- Arena
Ans- Open
12. Adjectives not selected by the participants but selected by his peers are placed in:
(a)Façade
4.19
(b) Blind
(c) Unknown
(d) open
Ans- Blind
13. Workers feel involved in the organisation and participate in the management. This is
called as which flow of communication?
(a) Downward
(b)Upward
(c )Diagonal
(d) Horizontal
Ans- Upward
15. In which network each subordinate receives a command from a single authority or
superior :
a)vertical network
(b)circuit network
(c)wheel network
(d)star network
4.20
16. hand-held computer devices that can perform a number of things like receiving mails,
sending and receiving audio
(a) PDA
(b) Mobile Phones
(c) Emails
(d) Blogs
Ans- PDA
17. Network channel of communication which is open to all members of the group-
(a)vertical network
(b)circuit network
(c)wheel network
(d)star network
19. Communication flow takes place between the same status/ level of heirarchy in the
organization:
(a) Downward
(b)Upward
(c )Diagonal
(e) Horizontal
Ans- Horizontal
4.21
20. Communication is a:
(a)Goal-oriented process
(b)two way process
(c)dynamic process
(d)all of the above
4.22
5. LISTENING SKILLS
I. INTRODUCTION
Effective listening is the process of analysing sounds in a language, organizing them into
recognizable patterns, interpreting the patterns and understanding the message by
inferring the meaning.
It is the receiving part of communication and is an active and integrated communication
skill that demands energy and know how.
It is a technique used for understanding, what is being said by taking into account how
something is said and the nonverbal signs and body language that accompanies it.
Communication is not complete without effective listening.
5.1
III. THE PURPOSE OF LISTENING
To specifically focus on the messages being communicated,
avoiding distractions and preconceptions.
To gain a full and accurate understanding into the speakers point of view and ideas.
To arrive at a shared and agreed understanding and acceptance of both sides views.
5.2
It is not a passive process, which means the listener should be as involved in the
process as speaker. This is called as active listening.
It is a mental activity that involves and uses the brain.
Hearing:
It is a physical process where sound enters your ears automatically.
DISCRIMINATIVE
COMPREHENSION
CRITICAL
BIASED
EVALUATIVE
APPRECIATIVE
SYMPATHETIC
EMPATHETIC
THERAPEUTIC
DIALOGIC
RELATIONSHIP
SELECTIVE
1. DISCRIMINATIVE LISTENING
a) Discriminative listening is the most basic type of listening since, in this type of
listening difference between different sounds is identified.
b) We learn to discriminate between sounds within our own language early, and later are
unable to discriminate between the phonemes of other languages. This is one reason
why a person from one country finds it difficult to speak another language perfectly, as
they are unable distinguish the subtle sounds that are required in that language.
5.3
2. COMPREHENSION LISTENING
a) Next step after discriminative listening is comprehensive listening where after analysing
difference between sounds, one analyses the sense that it makes.
b) To comprehend the meaning requires first having a lexicon of words at our fingertips
and also all rules of grammar and syntax by which we can understand what others are
saying.
c) It is also known as content listening, informative listening and full listening.
3. CRITICAL LISTENING
a) It is the listening in order to evaluate and judge and form opinion with respect to what
is being said. It includes assessing strengths, weaknesses etc.
b) It is a form of listening which requires real time cognitive efforts.
4. BIASED LISTENING
When the person hears only what they want to hear, typically misinterpreting what the
other person says based on the stereotypes and other biases that they have, it is called
as biased listening.
5. EVALUATIVE LISTENING
a) In evaluative listening, we make judgments about what the other person is saying. We
seek to assess the truth of what is being said and judge what they say against our
values, assessing them as good or bad, worthy or unworthy.
b) It is also called as critical, judgmental or interpretive listening.
c) When a person tries to persuade us or change our behaviour, evaluative listening is used.
we weigh up the pros and cons of an argument and determine whether the argument
makes sense logically and if it is helpful for us.
6. APPRECIATIVE LISTENING
In appreciative listening we seek certain information which will appreciate. Example-
Justin Bieber’s music helps us to meet our needs and goals.
5.4
7. SYMPATHETIC LISTENING
In this form of listening we care about the other person and show our concern by
paying close attention and expressing our sorrows for their ills and happiness for their
joys.
8. EMPATHETIC LISTENING
When we go beyond sympathy and seek a true understanding of how others are feeling,
it is called as listening empathetically. When we are empathetic, we actually feel what
others are feeling.
9. THERAPEUTIC LISTENING
When listener not only empathise with the speaker but tries to help the speaker to
understand, change or develop in a new way, it is called as therapeutic listening.
This can happen in work situations where manager tries to help employees learn and
develop or in families where they seek to diagnose the problems of speaker and help
them develop.
5.5
b) Listener is biased to what they are hearing on the basis of preconceived ideas or
emotionally difficult communications.
c) This type of listening is a sign of failing communication.
ACTIVE
LISTENER
EVALUATIVE PASSIVE
LISTENERS LISTENER
MARGINAL NON-
LISTENERS LISTENERS
5.6
ACTIVE LISTENERS
5.7
PASSIVE LISTENERS
NON-LISTENERS
5.8
The non-listeners do not listen at all because they are genuinely disinterested in the
subject.
Their complete insensitivity and insensible nature makes them incapable of
understanding others.
You will find non- listeners among authority figures who will do most of the talking and
will not let their sub-ordinates easily express their ideas. Although, they frequently
interrupt by saying “I understand,” and “I know,” they actually do not know anything
or understand the subject.
MARGINAL LISTENERS
Marginal listeners pay superficial attention, and are interested only in the bottom line.
They use external distractions to excuse themselves from conversations and they will
not have the patience to sit through complex technical presentations, and jump to
findings and conclusions.
5.9
EVALUATIVE LISTENERS
Evaluative listeners literally assess the verbal content on the basis of words not
paralinguistic or nonverbal cues.
They use logic to understand the content, hence, they distance themselves emotionally
from the subject.
5.10
VIII. BARRIERS TO ACTIVE LISTENER
INADEQUATE LANGUAGE BASE- Inadequate language base, Weak language proficiency, lack
of technical vocabulary, combined with fear and shyness, hinders communication
PARTIAL LISTENING- It occurs when people happily indulge themselves in multitasking and
allow themselves
to be distracted easily.
PRE JUDGING THE SPEAKER/SPEECH- The listeners form biased opinions by looking at the
speaker’s look, dress and mannerism, which affects communication.
NEGATIVITY TOWARDS THE SPEAKER- If there is any dislike for the speaker and
disapproval to his/her ideas, the listener will certainly
reconstruct distorted and negative message.
DIFFIDENCE- Some listeners suffer from a defeatist attitude, underestimate their self-
capabilities and decide
in advance that they cannot understand what they are going to hear.
OVER ENTHUSIASM/ INTOLERENCE- when the listener finds speaker slow to communicate
his/her ideas he becomes intolerant and start's interfering to prevent speaker to finish the
talk on his/her pace.
5.11
IX. PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE LISTENING
a) Stop talking: When somebody else is talking listen to what they are saying, do not
interrupt, talk over them or finish their sentences for them.
b) Prepare yourself to listen: Try to put other thoughts out of mind and concentrate on the
messages that are being communicated.
c) Put the speaker at ease: Help the speaker to feel free to speak. Nod or use other
gestures or words to encourage them to continue and maintain eye contact to show you
are listening and understanding what is being said.
d) Remove distractions: Don’t doodle, shuffle papers, look out the window, pick your
fingernails or similar and avoid unnecessary interruptions as these behaviours disrupt the
listening process and send messages to the speaker that you are bored or distracted.
e) Empathise: Try to understand the other person’s point of view, look at issues from their
perspective and let go of preconceived ideas as by having an open mind we can fully
empathise with the speaker.
f) Be patient: Be patient and let the speaker continue in their own time.
g) Avoid personal prejudice: Try to be impartial and don't become irritated or let the
person’s habits or mannerisms distract you from what the speaker is really saying.
Everybody has a different way of speaking.
h) Listen to the tone: A good speaker will use both volume and tone to their advantage to
keep an audience attentive, let these help you to understand the emphasis of what
is being said.
5.12
i) Listen for ideas not just words: One of the most difficult aspects of listening is the
ability to link together pieces of information to reveal the ideas of others, hence; you
need to get the whole picture, not just isolated bits and pieces.
j) Wait and watch for non-verbal communications: Watch and pick up the additional
information being transmitted via non-verbal communication because gestures, facial
expressions, and eye-movements can all be important.
b) Interrupting: When the listener is interrupting, he or she is certainly not listening fully.
It becomes a problem because firstly it is an aggressive behavior and will most likely
bring a negative response from the speaker being interrupted and secondly it is difficult
to listen and speak at the same time.
d) Preoccupation: When we feel stressed or worried, our minds are preoccupied by a lot of
thoughts and we fail to listen to what is being said as we are busy concentrating on
what is going on in our head.
e) Having a closed mind: The key to effective listening and interpersonal skills more
generally is the ability to have a truly open mind - to understand why others think
about things differently to you and use this information to gain a better understanding
of the speaker, though some people may have their own views and values which may
make it difficult to listen to the views of others.
5.13
f) Bringing in emotions: Emotions erect barriers to effective communication as it is not
possible to understand or appreciate what the speaker is saying if the listener is
excessively sad.
h) Faking attention: This is hurtful and sends the message to the speaker that the
listener doesn't really care about what the speaker is saying.
i) Becoming emotional: It is important that the receiver be aware of his or her emotions.
If the sender is sending a message that is offensive, it is important to acknowledge
that fact and be aware of the fact that something is threatening a breakdown in the
process. When a receiver is angered, it is easy for him or her to miss the most
important part of the sender's message.
j) To avoid jumping to conclusions: It may be helpful for the listener to wait until the
speaker is finished before responding and ask questions throughout the conversation to
clarify issues.
k) Distraction: while someone is trying to communicate often one has many tasks to do,
which becomes a problem and leads to miscommunication.
5.14
b) Concentrate: When you're involved in an exchange of information, you can't be multi -
tasking. It's important to position yourself in a way that maintains eye contact while
allowing you to watch for body language and other non-verbal forms of communication.
c) Refrain from formulating an immediate response: You won't be able to fully concentrate
on forming a genuine understanding of what the speaker is trying to say if you are too
busy thinking about what you are going to say in response.
e) Be prepared to accept revisions: Often people are so busy trying to defend their
positions that they fail to really stop and think whether they could be improved upon or
viewed in a different way. There should always be a willingness to accept revisions
which keeps the communication process running smoothly.
5.15
LET’S TEST OUR KNOWLEDGE
Ans- Receiving
5.16
Ans- Both Volume and Tone
Ans- d
8. Impatient to listen to the main ideas, _______ listeners pay superficial attention, and
are interested only in the bottom line-
(a) Marginal Listener
(b) Non-Listener
(c) Passive Listener
(d) Evaluative Listener
5.17
Ans- Marginal Listeners
9. __________ listeners pay attention only to partial message and lack sensitivity to the
nuances, inner meanings, nonverbal subtexts involved in communication.
(a) Active Listener
(b)Non-Listener
(c)Passive Listener
(d)Evaluative Listener
10. ______ listeners focus on the content and the manner in which they are delivered.
(a)Active Listener
(b)Non-Listener
(c)Passive Listener
(d)Evaluative Listener
11. Active and effective listening are combined and subsumed under listening.
(a) Active and effective
(b)Selective
(c)Dialogic
(d)Evaluative
12. _______ listening is a type of listening where difference between sounds is identified.
(a)Discriminative
(b)Comprehension
(C)Selective
5.18
(d)critical
Ans- Discriminative
5.19
6. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE
I. INTRODUCTION
A business letter is usually a letter from one business entity to another, or between
such organizations and their customers or clients and other related parties. The overall
style of letter depends on the purpose of the letters and relationship between the
parties concerned. While we are speaking the listener can see your smile and recognise
that you wish to be pleasant in communicating your message, but same is not possible
in a written message. A person reading a letter cannot see your smile, hear your voice,
or observe your gestures, thus, a business letter should be drafted very carefully.
Over the period of time, the norms, or conventions, for drafting a business letter have
been stabilized. Today’s business letters with their conversational tone and the
application of psychology are the big improvement over the letter of bygone days.
6.1
3. Date: The date must be written in full without abbreviating the name of the month. For
example, 1.6.2019 may preferably be written as 1 June, 2019. It may be written either
below the reference number or to its extreme right.
4. Special Markings: When the contents of the letter are confidential then special
markings are placed like confidential, Air Mail, through Registered Post/Courier/Speed
Post etc.
5. Inside Address: The complete name and address of the recipient is written below the
special markings. It must be ensured that the inside name and address is exactly the
same as that used on the envelope.
6. Attention Line: If the letter is addressed to a company or one of its departments but
the sender wishes it to be dealt with by a particular individual, then an attention line
may be inserted either above or below the inside address.
7. Salutation: Salutation is used on the basis of formality. For example Sir/ Dear Sir/ Dear
Ms. Gupta, etc.
8. Subject Heading: This helps the reader find out in the first instance what the contents
of the letter are. The usual place for a subject heading is either above or below the
salutation. Subject heading proves to be of immense help especially if it is addressed to
a large organisation because large organisations have a central department where all
mail are received and sorted.
Example-
Sub: Application For Leave.
9. Main Body: The main body of letter is divided into three parts. It begins with the
introduction which states the purpose of the letter, followed by a longer middle section,
which presents relevant facts in a logical and coherent manner and the conclusion,
which is polite rounding off. It is not advisable to round off every business letter with
the phrase “Thanking You”. If the intention is to really thank the recipient, then a
6.2
complete sentence may be used since a phrase beginning with an “ing” word is neither
a complete sentence nor grammatically acceptable.
10. Complimentary close: A complimentary close should match the salutation. Example if
salutation used was
Sir – Yours Truly
Dear Sir- Yours faithfully
Dear Ms. Muskan- Yours sincerely
11. Signatory: After leaving four to five spaces for the signature, the name of the sender
may be written in capitals within brackets followed by the designation as shown below:
(AMBUJ CHANDNA).
Regional Sales Manager
13. Annexures: If we wish to annex some documents with the letter, then information about
these may be listed at the end.
6.3
III. TYPES OF BUSINESS LETTERS
Business letters are of two types:
6.4
IV. LAYOUT OF LETTERS
Letters can be in blocked or semi-blocked format
BLOCKED FORMAT
1. In this format the date of the letter, all references, subject, salutation, the paragraphs
in the body of the letter, conclusion and signature, all commence at the left margin.
2. No commas are used after inside address, salutation or complimentary close.
SEMI-BLOCKED FORMAT
1. In this format of a letter the date of the letter, conclusion and signature are aligned to
the right of the letter, the subject or reference is centrally aligned and the paragraphs
of the body of the letter all commence with a slight indent.
2. Commas are used after inside address, salutation or complimentary close.
6.5
6.6
V. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD BUSINESS LETTER
COMPLETENESS
STYLE CLARITY
COURTESY SIMPLICITY
SINCERITY ACCURACY
BREVITY
1. Completeness: The letter must be complete in itself and should contain all the
information required by the addressee. The important and relevant matter should not be
left out as when a letter is incomplete, an unnecessary delay is caused in seeking
clarifications.
2. Clarity: Clear writing and clear thinking should go hand in hand. The writer must be
clear about what he wants to convey and he should try to express it in simple and
straight forward language. He should plan the message to be conveyed as planning helps
to produce orderly kind of letter which creates a good impression.
3. Simplicity: Business letters should be in a simple style, clear and easily understandable
and it should avoid using high sounding phrases.
4. Accuracy: All facts and figures references should be as accurate as possible and
documents like bills of exchange, invoices, statements of accounts should be carefully
prepared and checked. There should be no mistakes or false and misleading statement.
5. Brevity: As brevity in letter is the soul of a commercial correspondence, the writer must
see that every sentence he has written in impregnated with an appropriate meaning.
6. Sincerity: Whether a person is writing a personal letter or a business letter, he needs to
write it with sincerity. It must have originality of the sort that expresses the thoughts
of its writer in his own style.
6.7
7. Courtesy: Courtesy means that the general tone of the letter should be mild and there
should be consideration for the feelings of others. Curt and rude letters have got no
place in the business world. Courtesy should not be sacrificed for the sake of brevity.
Discourteous and unpleasant language should be avoided even while writing letters of
complaint or letters of refusal.
8. Style: The words used in a business letter and the way in which they are used express
the writer’s personality and give the letter what is called its style. If one writes with
naturalness and ease, the letter so produced will reflect the personality of the writer.
Therefore, it is correctly said, that Style is the man.
6.8
I or We attitude : We are sure that our new discount policy will attractive to you.
You attitude : You will surely appreciate new discount policy.
I or We attitude : I am happy to hear that you have selected our Company.
You attitude : Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you.
I or we Attitude : I will give you 10% discount on credit card purchase
You attitude : You can get 10% discount on credit card purchase
1. Positive Messages: Positive messages tend to consist of routine or good news. These
messages might be items such as congratulations, confirmations, directions, simple
credit requests, or credit approvals.
2. Negative Messages: In these messages, the sender’s goal is to convey the bad news in a
manner that preserves the business relationship. These messages might be items such
6.9
as refusal to provide a refund, cancellation of an event, inability to support an event
and more.
3. Persuasive Messages: The third, overlapping category is persuasive messages. In this type
of message, the audience is expected to need encouragement in order to act as the
sender desires. In some cases, the receiver is more like a positive audience; for example,
when you’re asking for a recommendation letter or when you’re inviting someone to
attend an after-hours work function. In other cases, the receiver is more like a negative
audience; for example, when you’re requesting additional payment as a result of a
shared error or when you’re providing an extension to an impending due date.
6.10
Categories of business report are as following-
Sustainability Corporate
Compliance report
report governance report
6.11
To write an effective business report, it is necessary to understand and identify the
following:
executive summary
The Executive Summary acts like the Abstract of a regular essay. It will briefly state
the purpose of the report, describe the methodology used to investigate the issue and
will list the key points and findings that are found in the report.
The body describe your methodology and identify particular issues that impacted on
your evaluation.
In the Key Findings/Recommendations section you will identify and discuss/describe your
key findings and make your recommendations.
6.12
Most memos have same headings though there may be slight change in formats. Inside
name, addresses, salutation and complimentary close are now not used in a memo. When
addressed to all employees, a memorandum is as good as an Office Circular:
Memos are also issued in the case of disciplinary actions to be taken against the
employees, with respect to show cause notice, charge sheet etc.
2. OFFICE CIRCULARS- Office circulars are for disseminating information to a large number
of employees within the organisation. Since it is an internal communication, therefore it
has traditionally been brief and business-like formal and devoid of salutation.
3. OFFICE ORDERS- Office Orders have a format similar to that of memorandums but
what makes them different is the purpose and tone employed. They generally deal with
matters affecting rights and privileges of employees and the language used is formal
and legally common.
They carry a number since they remain in force till revoked and a bold, underlined
heading to help us identify them.
4. ORDER NOTES- Office Notes are exchange between two different departments and its
format may differ from company to company.
IMPORTANT
Memo is different from a letter. It does not have a salutation and complimentary
close but subject is written and underlined.
Memos are used to issue instructions to staff, making requests, giving information
etc.
Language of the memo is always polite and courteous.
6.13
For making decisions, executives need the information and this information is
to be provided by information specialist or by data processing department.
Depending on the hierarchy the information need differs, accordingly different types of
information systems are required. To achieve this goal, different types of information
systems are devised by the organizations amongst which is MIS.
6.14
C. PURPOSE OF MIS
To develop the training tools for the new recruits in the organization at all levels.
D. ELEMENTS OF MIS
1. Management-
It has been defined as the art of getting things done through people.
It is a process of conceiving and converting certain worthwhile ideas into results by
getting things done through people by offering them monetary and other inducement in
return for their contributions.
6.15
It involves mobilization, combination, allocation and utilization of physical, human and
other needed resources in a judicious manner by employing appropriate skills, approaches
and techniques.
In short Management can be considered as sum total of the activities which relate to
the laying down of certain plans, policies and purposes, securing men, money, materials
and machinery needed for their goal achievements; putting all of them into operation,
checking their performance and providing material rewards and mental satisfaction to
the men engaged in the operation.
2. Information-
It is a source for increment in knowledge which is obtained in MIS by processing data in
to a form which is meaningful to the users.
3. System-
A physical system is a set of components that operate together to achieve a common
objective or multiple objectives. An efficient system uses its inputs economically in
producing its outputs.
MIS can be thought of as a system (set of hardware, software, manpower, procedures,
etc.) to provide timely and accurate information to the management users in an
organisation.
E. STRUCTURE OF MIS
Management Levels and their information needs
The levels of management consist of top, middle, and first line management
(supervisory) and activities involved in the organisation are of three types:
1. Strategic Planning
2. Tactical Planning
3. Operational Planning
Each of these levels to perform - strategic planning, tactical, and operational activities
and requires different set of information.
6.16
1. TOP LEVEL (STRATEGIC LEVEL) MANAGEMENT AND THEIR INFORMATION
REQUIREMENTS
Top management is concerned with the overall tasks of designing directing, managing
the organization in an integrated manner and interacting with representatives of the
external environment, such as financial institutions, political figures, and important
clients of the organization.
It consists of Chairman, members of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, the
heads of the major departments of the company and those executives, whose
responsibilities relate to the whole organization or who are accountable for effectiveness
and efficiency of the operations of the organization as a whole.
Top management needs the information on the trends in the external environment
(economic, technological, political and social) and on the functioning of the internal
organizational sub-system. Apart from historical information, top management requires
on-going or current information also which is generated through forecasts of the future.
Thus, mostly the information utilized by top management is futuristic and external in
nature.
Information generated in strategic planning is usually incomplete and is not fully
reliable.
6.17
management and thus the information received is internal in nature. It does not require
a lot of futuristic information as its decisions are not of long term nature.
Example- the information needs of a sales manager are:
corporate sales goals and targets, strategies and policies for operationalizing them, he
also needs information on sales potential and trends in different market segments,
geographical territories, competitive conditions and so on
F. CHARACTERISTICS OF MIS
1. Comprehensiveness: Management Information System is comprehensive in nature. It
takes inputs from transactions processing systems and process information primarily for
managers at all levels.
6.18
3. Sub-systems :
A MIS is composed of sub-systems or quasi separate component system that is the
part of the overall - unified system.
Each of these systems shares the goals of the management information system and of
the organization where some of the systems serve just one activity or level in the
organization, while others serve multi-levels or multiple activities.
4. Integration:
Sub-systems of MIS are integrated so that the activities of each are inter-related with
those of the others. This integration is accomplished primarily by passing data between
these systems.
Integration makes information processing more efficient by reducing both intermediate
processing and the incidence of independent generation of the same data by multiple
departments and providing more timely, complete and relevant information.
6.19
At the organization’s lowest levels, the management information system is more likely
to be tailored to the unusual way in which clerical and operations personnel use
information and interact with the information system.
For middle managers, the information system is tailored to the general characteristics
of managers.
8. Relevant Information: MIS should only provide relevant information though determining
what information is relevant may be difficult in situations where analysis vary from
manager to manager and in particular cases like special problems.
10. Feedback: A management information system should provide feedback about its own
efficiency and effectiveness. The reporting of computer malfunctions and transactions
processing error rates is a simple example of this feedback. It includes report such as
how much computer time is used by each user, how many pages are printed for each
user, and how much internal data file space is utilized by
each user’s data.
11. Flexibility: It must be so designed that it can be easily modified as if the environment
changes or if the organization undertakes new activities (such as introducing new
products), new modes of processing is required.
12. Modularity: The MIS should be composed of many modules or sub-systems rather than
be designed as one large system.
13. Selective Sharing of Data : Another characteristic of an MIS is selective sharing of data.
Two or more managers often need to utilize the same information; the system should
have features, which allow ready access to information by multiple managers. An
advanced feature that promotes this sharing is data bases.On the other hand, it is
often important to reserve certain information for the exclusive use of only selected
6.20
managers. Sometimes, this need extends down to the record or field level, in which case
some parts of a record are available to all managers, but only certain managers
permitted to examine other parts. For example, an employee’s current address or marital
status may be needed by employee or other personnel, but access to information about
pay rate, hours worked, gross pay, and other details of payments may be restricted to
certain payroll managers. This selective sharing quality can be established by controls
that are part of the computer programs.
14. Computerised: It is possible to have a MIS without using a computer but use of
computer increases the efficiency of MIS. Its use equips the MIS to handle necessary
attributes of the computer to MIS, for example accuracy and consistency in processing
data and reduction in staff.
6.21
G. BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF MIS
• The hardware must provide five basic functions, i.e., input of data entry, output,
secondary storage for data and programmes, central processor (Computation,
Hardware Control, and primary storage) and communication.
6.22
H. LIMITATIONS OF MIS
1. The quality of the outputs of MIS is basically governed by the quality of inputs and
processes.
2. It cannot replace managerial judgement in making decisions in different functional
areas. It is merely an important tool in the hands of executives for decision-making and
problem solving.
3. MIS may not have requisite flexibility to quickly update itself with the changing needs
of time, especially in the fast changing and complex environment.
4. MIS cannot provide tailor made information packages suitable for the purpose of every
type of decisions made by executives.
5. MIS takes into account mainly quantitative factors; thus it ignores non-quantitative
factors like morale, attitudes of members of the organization, which have an important
bearing on decision-making process of executives.
6. MIS is less useful for making non-programmed decision-making. Such type of decisions
is not of routine type and thus they require information, which may not be available
from existing MIS to executives.
7. The effectiveness of MIS is reduced in the organization, where the culture is to hold
information and not share with others.
8. MIS effectiveness decreases due to frequent changes in top management organizational
structure and operational team.
6.23
LET’S TEST OUR KNOWLEDGE
Ans-d
Ans- b
Ans- a
6.24
Ans- a
Ans- b
6.25
7. CONCEPT OF E-CORRESPONDENCE
I. INTRODUCTION
Professionals, non-professionals, experts or students, we are all turning increasingly to
the internet in our daily lives. Whether we want to find educational openings abroad, do
banking operations online, find research material on any issue, send corporate e -mails,
internet is the place where we go most often. From the trivial to the highly complex, we
look for answers to most of our questions in the vast ocean of knowledge called World
Wide Web (www).
Many people use the terms Internet and World Wide Web interchangeably, but in fact
these two terms are not synonymous. The Internet and the Web are two separate but
related things.
II. WEB
The World Wide Web, or simply Web, is a way of accessing information over the medium
of the Internet.
The Web is just one of the ways through which information can be disseminated over
the Internet.
It uses the HTTP protocol (one of the languages spoken over the Internet) to transmit
data.
It also utilizes browsers, such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer or Firefox to access
Web documents called Web pages that are linked to one another via hyperlinks. Web
documents also contain graphics, sounds, text and video.
The Internet, not the Web, is also used for e-mail. So the Web is just part of the
Internet, albeit a large part, but the two terms are not synonymous and should not be
confused.
III. BROWSER
A Web browser is software application that enables you to find, retrieve, and display
information available on the World Wide Web (WWW). Browser also allows you to traverse
information resources on the WWW. The information on the Web is organized and
formatted using tags of a Markup language called Hypertext Markup Language or HTML.
Some of the popular web browsers are –
7.1
1. Google Chrome
2. Internet Explorer
3. Mozilla Firefox
4. Safari
5. Opera.
IV. INTERNET
The Internet is a massive network of networks - a networking infrastructure. It
connects millions of computers together globally forming a network in which any
computer can communicate with any other computer as long as they are both connected
to the Internet.
Information that travels over the Internet does so via a variety of languages known as
protocols. The Internet uses TCP/IP as its basic protocol on which many more application
level protocols have been developed.
7.2
INTERNET v/s WORLD WIDE WEB
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks. In contrast,
the Web is one of the services that runs on the Internet. It is a collection of
textual documents and other resources, linked by hyperlinks and URLs,
transmitted by web browsers and web servers. In short, the Web can be thought
of as an application “running” on the Internet.
Viewing a web page on the World Wide Web normally begins either by typing the
URL of the page into a web browser or by following a hyperlink to that page or
resource.
V. E-CORRESPONDENCE
E-Correspondence, commonly known as ‘email-correspondence’ or ‘electronic
correspondence’, is an electronic method of providing you with important information on
your email address.
7.3
‘@’ symbol to provide an addressing standard in the form of “user@host, which is why
he is called as father of e-mail.
1974- email in its improved form was being used by the US military.
1975- A general operating area, known as email account, was created for users who
wanted to avail the email service. Access controlling was done by giving the user a
secret password, which only he/she would know. Separate folders were created
depending on the purpose like. Inbox for incoming messages and outbox for outgoing
messages.
1972- File transfer protocol (FTP) was put in use to send email messages. However, FTP
created a separate mail for every recipient and then dispatched it, which resulted in
loss of memory space.
1980- Simple Mail Transfer protocol was developed for sending mails. If SMTP is used to
send messages, POP (Post Office Protocol) is a standard for receiving emails. However,
due to drawbacks of POP, IMAP ((Internet Message Access Protocol)was developed
through which one comes to know about the offline messages, i.e., messages received
when the receiver is not signed in.
1990’s- Free and user-friendly email service providers had taken the industry by storm.
Players like ‘yahoo’ and ‘hotmail’ were competing for the market share and today, there
are more than 600 million email users across the globe, with newer players like Google
(Gmail) and Rediff entering.
7.4
5. Interface: An interface between email programme and word processing programme allows
us to cut, copy and paste material from one place to the other.
6. Attachments: The ‘Attach’ option allows us to share documents, worksheets,
presentations, pictures and videos along with the mails.
7. Spam: Junk mails can be filtered by using the ‘spam’ option which forbids unwanted
mails to enter your inbox.
8. Signature: We can customize our signature if we want it to appear in the complimentary
closure of every email and once you add your signature it automatically appears at the
end of every mail that you compose.
9. Search: The search option helps us to locate old email communications.
10. Cloud Storage: Google Drive, Dropboxetc are examples companies offering cloud service
solutions to enterprises. Data can be stored on cloud.
11. Changes at the Workplace: This trend of online work has brought about other changes
like virtual workplaces, work from home, flexi-time etc.
7.5
2. Contacts: The Contacts helps you to find email address of a person whom you have
saved in your Contact list.
3. To field: In to field you have to put the address of the receiver and in case you want to
send email to more than one receiver then put commas between their email addresses
or you can use ?add cc. or ?add bcc.
4. Subject: Subject helps to explain that mail is regarding which issue.
5. Text Area: The message is written in this area.
6. Send: You can send the mail by clicking the Send button.
7. Group Contacts: Contacts can be organized in different groups like office, school,
relatives etc.
7.6
7. Respond promptly to official e-mail messages - less than 24 hours. In case the
response takes more detailed information, write a short reply explaining how long it
would take for you to give a proper response. Non-response sends out wrong signals.
8. Have a standard signature for your official e-mails - Name, Designation, Phone numbers.
This helps in accurate identification.
9. Limit the size of attachments to be received or sent out by e-mail. This helps monitor
data security, virus attacks etc.
10. Proper Grammar, correct spelling, tone, courtesy, structure, content etc. should exist.
7.7
5. Be Professional: Stay away from abbreviations and don’t use emoticons (those little
smiley faces).
6. Use Correct Spelling and Proper Grammar: Use a dictionary or a spell checker and pay
attention to the basic rules of grammar.
7. Wait to Fill in the “TO” Email Address: This will keep you from accidentally sending an
email prematurely.
SECURE • The level of security in transmitting Email messages is very high, and the
TRANSMIS industry continues to strive to develop even tighter security levels.
SION AND
RELIABLE
7.8
XV. DISADVANTAGES OF E-MAIL
• Since email recipients cannot see one another, the emails do not
IMPERSONAL have any voice inflection or emotion that can help in proper
COMMUNICAT interpretation.
ION
• All of your emails and important information can be lost with a simple
hard-drive crash. Even if you store your email information on another
VULNERABILI server, you could lose your data if that site goes down or gets out of
TY business.
7.9
XVI. INTRANET
The word ‘intra’ means within or internal.
It is like the internet, except that it contains information specific to the particular
organization. External people, who are not on the network cannot access the
intranet.
The intranet implies that only the company employees who are set up on the server can
access the company pages and is different from the Internet which is open to everyone
who has an Internet connection.
The benefits of an intranet are that it allows a central communication area for the
entire company. It gives information to everyone within the company, regardless of the ir
location. Thus, all employees in an organisation get to know about the carried
happenings.
7.10
6. Cost-effective: Users can view information and data via web-browser rather than
maintaining physical documents which save the business money on printing, duplicating
documents etc.
7. Enhance Collaboration: Information is easily accessible by all authorized users, which
enables teamwork.
8. Promote Common Corporate Culture: Every user has the ability to view the same
information within the Intranet.
9. Immediate Updates: Intranets make it possible to provide your audience with “live”
changes so they are kept upto-date, which can limit a company’s liability.
10. Supports a Distributed Computing Architecture: The intranet can also be linked to a
company’s management information system.
7.11
LET’S TEST OUR KNOWLEDGE
1. E-mails can be filtered using the _____ option which prevents unwanted mails from
entering your inbox.
a. Junk Mail
b. Spam
c. Trash
d. All of the above
Ans- b
2. The ____ option in e-mail helps us to retrieve old email communications.
a. Find
b. Search
c. Settings
d. None of the above
Ans- b
3. Through e-mail companies are offering ____service to its employees that help them use
tools like Google drive drop box etc.
a. Accounts
b. Package
c. Cloud Storage
d. All of the above
Ans- c
7.12
d. Avoid ‘spamming.’ Maintain a proper distribution list of recipients for your mails.
Ans- b
Ans- a
Ans- b
Ans- d
8. Which of the following is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the
internet
a. Intranet
b. Extranet
7.13
c. World wide web
d. None of the above
Ans- c
Ans- d
Ans- a
7.14
8. COMMON BUSINESS TERMINOLOGIES
Business Terminologies
1. Adjournment: Postponement of a court session until another time or place.
2. Adjudication: A decision or sentence imposed by a judge
3. Affidavit: A written statement signed in the presence of a judicial officer, a Notary
Public or an Oath Commissioner that is admissible as evidence in a court of law.
4. Annual Return: A statutory document filed by every company annually with the
Registrar of Companies, stating the particulars such as status, names of directors,
shareholders, indebtness etc. of the company.
5. Appellant- The party appealing a decision or judgment to a higher court.
6. Attestation: Attestation is authentication of a signature by an authorized person, who
could be an oaths commissioner or a notary public.
7. Bankruptcy: A legal condition where a person or a business in which liabilities
exceed the assets and the debtor is unable to repay amounts owed.
8.1
8. Case: lawsuit or action in a court.
9. Case Laws: Judgements by courts usually of higher courts, in leading cases, which are
treated as authorities and quoted and relied on in similar cases by the lower or same
level courts.
10. Cause list: Cause list is issued by the Registry of the matters to be heard by the court
on any day. Cause list contains information like bench, courtroom number and the
position of the matter.
11. Caveat Emptor: A legal doctrine literally meaning ‘let the buyer beware’ of what he is
buying and satisfy himself about the quality and condition of what he is buying.
12. Collateral: A security generally in the form of fixed assets and offered in addition to
those already furnished.
13. Consortium: An association of companies formed for the purpose of undertaking
a particular activity. There may be no other connection between the
companies outside the scope of activities. It is usually to share the
limited resources and risks associated with the activity undertaken.
14. Cover Note: A document issued by an insurance company to provide cover to the insured
till a formal policy document is issued.
15. Credit Note: A document sent by a seller to a buyer to rectify an error of overcharge in
an invoice or to allow credit for goods returned. It is entered in the books of account.
16. Debit Note: A note sent by seller to buyer to rectify an undercharge in the original
invoice. It is in the nature of a supplementary invoice.
17. Defendant: In civil cases, the person who is given court papers, also called a respondent.
In criminal cases, the person who is arrested and charged with a crime.
18. Dematerialisation: Conversion of debentures from electronic form. securities paper or
such as physical shares/ form to
19. Depository: The system of organisation which works through registered members called
depository participants, to maintain a record of securities in electronic or dematerialised
form. Transactions in such shares are recorded immediately by the depository
participants in the accounts of shareholders who hold the shares in dematerialised
form.
20. Dismissal: A judge's decision to end the case.
21. Dispose: Ending a legal case or a judicial proceeding.
8.2
22. Disposition: The manner in which a case is settled or resolved.
23. Dissolution: The legal end of a marriage, also called a divorce.
24. Earnest Money: refundable security in the form of demand draft or bank guarantees
to keep off non-serious applicants usually for tenders. It is also given by a buyer to
the seller to bind the bargain and may be adjusted later with the cost of the purchase.
25. Endorsement: A writing on the back of a bill of exchange i.e. an Order cheque
authorising the bank to pay to the bearer or a specified person or prohibit further
endorsements. The effect of endorsement is to vary the terms of the document.
26. Ex Gratia: Some action, normally the payment of money, taken where there is no legal
necessity to do so but where some moral obligation is recognised.
27. EX PARTE : Done for, or at the request of, one side in a case only, without prior
notice to the other side.
28. Executor: A person named in the Will of the deceased testator to administer/ carry out
its provisions/ directions.
29. Indemnity: A contractual obligation to compensate some other person in the event that
a loss is suffered by them for a specified cause.
30. Injunction: It is an order of the court directing a person to act or refrain from acting in
a certain manner. Injunctions are often issued to prevent people from harming others.
31. INSIDER TRADING: Trading in a company’s shares by a person connected with andhaving
access to its sensitive, unpublished and confidential information.
32. Insolvency: A state where the total assets of an entity are insufficient in value to meet
its total liabilities. It may lead to bankruptcy with the pronouncement by a court.
33. Laundering: The process of passing funds through a number of transactions with the
intention to conceal their origin.
34. Lease: The right to use a property for a specified term in lieu of lease-money or rent
paid periodically. The lessor has to execute a deed in favour of lessee containing terms
and conditions of lease.
35. Libel: Defamatory material in recorded form as opposed from slander which is oral. The
victim may file a suit for damages.
36. Litigant: A party to a case.
8.3
37. Market lot: The minimum number of shares, say 100, required for a transaction on a
Stock Exchange. Fewer shares constitute an odd lot. In Demat form, even a single share
may be traded.
38. Memorandum of association: A fundamental document which contains the
provisions of the company’s constitution, which is filed with the Registrar of
Companies at the time of the incorporation of a company. It states the name of the
company, its objectives, the amount of capital etc.
39. Minimum subscription: The minimum number of shares for which applications have to be
received by a company in a public issue before allotment can be made by it.
40. Moratorium: A freeze on the payment of debts by a government in times of national
crisis or an emergency.
41. Payee: A person to whom the amount is payable or in whose favour the Bill of Exchange
is drawn.
42. Pay-In-Slip: A form filled up to deposit cash or cheque in a bank. The account holder
retains the counterfoil. For bulk users, they may be bound in a Pay-in- Book.
43. Personal Guarantee: If you’re seeking financing for a very new business and don’t have a
high value asset to offer as collateral, you may be asked by the lender to sign a
statement of personal guarantee. In effect, this statement affirms that you as an
individual will act as guarantor for the business’s debt, making you personally liable for
the balance of the loan even in the event that your business fails.
44. Petitioner: Another word for plaintiff, the person starting the lawsuit.
45. Plaintiff: The person who sues or starts a civil case, also called the petitioner or the
complainant.
46. Plea: An accused persons answer to a criminal charge. For example: not guilty; guilty; no
contest.
47. Plea Bargains: The agreement a defendant makes with the prosecutor to avoid a trial.
Usually involves pleading guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a lighter sentence.
48. Pleading: The court documents filed with the court by the parties in a civil or
criminal case. For example: motion to dismiss; motion for modification.
49. Price Rigging: It is the collective effort of bulls or bears to manipulate the price of a
security without any regard for fundamentals of the company.
8.4
50. Proxy: One who acts on behalf of another, usually used to denote a person authorised by
a member of a company to be present and vote on his behalf in a meeting.
51. Quorum: The minimum number of members required to be present in order to transact
business at a meeting.
52. Record date: A date on which the records of a company are closed for the purpose of
determining the stockholders to whom dividends, proxies, rights, etc. are to be sent.
53. Salvage: Recovering items from a site of destruction.
54. Sampling: A method of drawing conclusions about the whole by examining portions of it
selected at random.
55. Sub-judice: A matter pending decision by a Court is called sub judice. Parties to such a
matter should not to do anything that would affect the outcome of the case.
56. Subrogation: The legal principle that entitles an insured only the actual loss sustained in
cases of pure indemnity.
57. Summons: A legal paper that is used to start a civil case and get jurisdiction over a
party.
58. Suo Moto: The Court may take action on its own when facts requiring legal intervention
reach its notice. The Court is then said to be acting suomoto.
59. Trustee: A person who holds property in trust for another for the use or benefit of
another.
60. Watchdog: A general term applied to a person or group appointed or set up to safeguard
the interests of a particular group.
61. Window dressing: A manoeuvre engaged in by companies, banks, mutual funds etc., at
the end of the accounting period in order to impress stock holders who will be receiving
the report showing that funds are better managed and invested than what might have
been drawn up.
62. Writ and writ petition: A writ is a direction that the Court issues, which is to be obeyed
by the authority/person to whom it is issued. A petition seeking issuance of a writ is a
writ petition.
63. Zero coupon Bond- A bond that pays no interest while the investor holds it. It is sold
originally at a substantial discount from its eventual maturity value, paying the investor
its full face value when it comes due, with the difference between what he paid
8.5
initially and what he finally collected representing the interest he would have received
over the years it was held.
8.6