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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Types of Business Communication

A junior accounts assistant in the Finance department sends a cost-related query directly to the Production Manager, who belongs to a different department and a higher level, bypassing her own manager. Which type of communication flow is this?

This is diagonal communication, since it connects people at different hierarchical levels who also work in different departments, bypassing the usual chain of command. Horizontal flow needs the same level, and upward flow within a department would need both persons in the same department.

  1. AHorizontal communication
  2. BDownward communication
  3. CDiagonal communicationCorrect
  4. DUpward communication within the same department

Explanation

Diagonal (crosswise) communication occurs between persons at different levels in different departments. Here the assistant and the Production Manager differ in both level and department. It is not horizontal because levels differ, and not within-department upward flow because departments differ.

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