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

In an organisation, a quarterly circular from the Managing Director goes to the General Managers, who pass it to department heads, who then pass it to supervisors. Which direction of formal communication does this represent?

This is downward communication, because the circular flows from the Managing Director through successive lower levels of the hierarchy to supervisors. Such flow follows the chain of command from superiors to subordinates, unlike upward, horizontal or diagonal communication.

  1. ADownward communicationCorrect
  2. BUpward communication
  3. CHorizontal communication
  4. DDiagonal communication

Explanation

The message travels from higher authority levels to lower levels along the chain of command, which is downward communication. Upward would require flow from subordinates to superiors. Horizontal needs peers at the same level, and diagonal crosses levels and departments.

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