ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Communicating in business
A senior manager tells a subordinate in a meeting, 'Things are fine in the department.' The subordinate knows of a serious control failure but omits it because he fears criticism from the manager. Which description BEST fits the barrier at work?
This is filtering of information driven by status and fear in upward communication. The subordinate deliberately withholds bad news because he fears the manager's reaction, so the manager receives an incomplete, over-favourable picture. It is not caused by ambiguous wording, overload or physical distance.
- ASemantic barrier caused by ambiguous words
- BFiltering of information due to status and fear in upward communicationCorrect
- CChannel overload caused by too many emails
- DPhysical barrier caused by distance between offices
Explanation
The subordinate withholds unfavourable information because of the manager's position and fear of criticism; this is filtering, influenced by status differences, in upward communication. Nothing suggests ambiguous wording, too many messages, or physical distance. Therefore the other options do not describe the cause.
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