Describe downward communication, and discuss the problems involved.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Downward communication refers to the flow of information from higher to lower levels in the organization's hierarchy. Examples include a manager giving an assignment to an assistant, a supervisor making an announcement to subordinates, and a company president delivering a talk to the management team. Downward communication that provides relevant information can enhance employee identification with the company, supportive attitudes, and decisions consistent with the organization's objectives.

One possible pitfall of downward communication is information overload: people are bombarded with so much information that they fail to absorb it all. Much of it is not very important, but its volume causes some useful information to be lost. A second problem is a lack of openness between managers and employees. A third problem is filtering. When messages are passed from one person to another, some information is left out. The message also gets distorted as people add their own words or interpretations. The smaller the number of authority levels through which communications must pass, the less information will be lost or distorted. Flatter organization offers the advantage of less filtering due to fewer hierarchical layers.