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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Features of Effective Business Communication

A sales manager in Delhi sends the same message about a new discount policy to the heads of marketing, finance and logistics, who all hold equal rank, so that their work is coordinated. Which statement about this communication is correct?

It is formal horizontal communication, because the message passes between people of equal rank through an official channel to coordinate their work. It is not downward since recipients are peers, and not grapevine since it is an authorised business message.

  1. AIt is formal horizontal (lateral) communication meant for coordinationCorrect
  2. BIt is informal upward communication
  3. CIt is formal downward communication because the manager is senior
  4. DIt is a grapevine because several people receive it

Explanation

The recipients are of equal rank, so the flow is across the same level, which is horizontal or lateral. It is an official message, hence formal. The purpose is coordination. Downward would apply only if recipients ranked below the sender; the grapevine is informal, which this is not.

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