CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Introduction to Business Communication
A company's finance head sends a circular from the head office to all branch managers instructing them on a new expense-reporting format. In terms of the direction of flow, this communication is best described as:
This is downward communication because the message flows from a higher authority, the head office finance head, to subordinates at the branches. Instructions, policies and circulars typically move in this direction. Upward flow goes from subordinates to superiors, and horizontal flow occurs between peers at the same level.
- AUpward communication
- BDownward communicationCorrect
- CHorizontal communication
- DDiagonal communication
Explanation
The circular travels from a superior level (head office) to subordinate levels (branch managers), which is the defining feature of downward communication. Upward would require the flow from branches to head office. Horizontal requires parties at the same level.
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