Pick a direction of communication flow in organizations, define it, and explain the benefits and disadvantages of that communication flow.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

*Downward communication—sends messages from the upper levels of the organizational hierarchy to the
lower levels. When downward communication is successful, lower-level employees consistently receive
clear messages and feedback from their superiors regarding organizational performance, strategies,
developments, and goals. Sharing information down the levels provides employees with a sense of
involvement and minimizes doubt and insecurity about how the company is performing. However, when
downward communication goes wrong and messages fail to be transmitted effectively down the chain of
command, it can cause confusion, distrust, and anxiety among the rest of the workforce
*Upward communication—sends messages from the lower levels of the organizational hierarchy to the
higher levels. Some organizations value feedback, suggestions, and advice from lower-level employees
who are “on the ground” and may be closer to knowing the needs of the customer. However, if lower-
level employees do not effectively communicate with their superiors and instead withhold or filter
information, this can leave those at the higher levels ignorant of what is really going on in the organization
*Lateral communication—sends messages between and among similar hierarchical levels across
organizations. Lateral communication can be an effective way for people from different departments to
communicate the information they need quickly and accurately. Organizations that foster a collaborative
environment encourage lateral communication between their employees. Although lateral
communication supports teamwork and helps build morale, it requires managerial control to minimize
potential interpersonal conflict that may arise as a result of many participants collaborating at once