COM 295 Week 1 Practice: Case Analysis: Credibility for an Entry-Level Professional

Complete the “Case Analysis: Credibility for an Entry-Level Professional” in Connect.

Credibility for an Entry-Level Professional

Your credibility determines how others perceive and react to your communications. In this exercise, you’ll test your ability to identify actions that correspond with the three elements of credibility: competence, caring, and character.

Read the case below and answer the questions that follow.

Jaxon, Sophia, and Emily were recently hired as audit assistants. This is the first full-time professional position for each of them. During the first few months of work, each of them experienced successes and failures.

Jaxon gained a reputation for finding out exactly what clients wanted. He asked the right questions, he respectfully explained points of disagreement with them, and he showed them he was genuinely interested in them. Several of his colleagues commented that clients trusted him to act appropriately on their behalf. His supervisor was pleased that Jaxon always followed through on commitments and was positive he wouldn’t avoid reporting tax violations made by clients. However, Jaxon’s performance was far from perfect. His supervisor noticed that Jaxon sometimes made fairly basic mistakes in his audits and his colleagues would have to redo some of his work.

Sophia has gained a reputation for completing audits more accurately than all other new audit assistants. Her supervisor is worried, however, about her long-term success at the firm. Sophia tends to overpromise. Last week, she told her supervisor she’d finish an important project but instead worked on other tasks. Last month, she called in sick for a few days. On one of her sick days, her supervisor saw pictures of her at a nearby resort that she had posted to Facebook.

Emily is the top performer on audits among the new group of employees at the firm. She is precise and efficient. She can typically accomplish many tasks in about half the time of most other audit assistants. Her supervisor is concerned, however, about her interpersonal skills. She tends to often criticize her colleagues for their mistakes and rarely offers appreciation for their help. She also seems to rub clients the wrong way and comes across as “antisocial” according to one valued client.

1

Jaxon most apparently lacks which element of credibility?

Multiple Choice

Caring

Competence

Character

2

Sophia most apparently lacks which element of credibility?

Multiple Choice

Character

Caring

Competence

3

Emily most apparently lacks which element of credibility?

Multiple Choice

Competence

Caring

Character

4

What would you most recommend to Jaxon to improve his credibility?

Multiple Choice

Make a priority of staying true to commitments and avoiding any deception.

Find ways to compliment the work of colleagues more often.

Have a mentor help overcome common mistakes in audits.

Take more vacation days.

Take online diversity training.

5

What would you most recommend to Sophia to improve her credibility?

Multiple Choice

Have a mentor help overcome common mistakes in audits.

Find ways to compliment the work of colleagues more often.

Take more vacation days.

Make a priority of not staying true to commitments and being deceptive.

Make a priority of staying true to commitments and avoiding any deception.

6

What would you most recommend to Emily to improve her credibility?

Multiple Choice

Have a mentor help overcome common mistakes in audits.

Find ways to compliment the work of colleagues more often.

Take more vacation days.

Take online diversity training.

Make a priority of staying true to commitments and avoiding any deception.