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

In a large company, a message from the managing director passes through five levels of managers before reaching shop-floor staff, and it arrives shortened and altered. Which barrier is best illustrated?

This is an organisational barrier. A long chain of command lets each level filter, shorten or alter the message, so it reaches the shop floor distorted. The cause is the structure of the hierarchy rather than language, noise or the inattention of one person.

  1. AOrganisational barrier through filtering across hierarchy levelsCorrect
  2. BSemantic barrier through use of jargon
  3. CPhysical barrier through noise
  4. DPersonal barrier through lack of attention only

Explanation

Each level in a long chain may omit or change details, which is filtering or distortion. This results from the structure of the organisation, so it is an organisational barrier. Jargon or noise is not mentioned.

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