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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Introduction to Business Communication

The accounts executive of a Chennai company sends a note directly to the production supervisor of a different department, who is at a lower level but not in her reporting line, to clarify a material issue. This flow is called:

This is diagonal or crosswise communication, because the message passes between people in different departments and at different hierarchical levels who have no direct reporting relationship. Horizontal communication needs peers at the same level, while vertical communication follows the line of authority upward or downward.

  1. AVertical communication
  2. BDiagonal (crosswise) communicationCorrect
  3. CGrapevine communication
  4. DUpward communication

Explanation

The two persons are in different departments and at different levels, with no reporting relationship. Communication across both levels and functions is diagonal or crosswise. Horizontal would require the same level; vertical requires a reporting line.

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