COMMUNICATION FUNDAMENTAL

Communication can flow vertically or laterally. The vertical dimension can be further divided into downward and upward directions.

Downward: Communication that flows from one level of a group or organization to a lower level is downward communication. When we think of managers communicating with employees, the downward pattern is the one we are usually thinking of. It’s used by group leaders and managers to assign goal, provide job instructions, inform employees of policies and procedures, point out problems that need attention, and offer feedback about performance. But downward communication doesn’t have to be oral or face-to-face contact. When management sends letters to employees’ homes to advise them of the organization’s new sick leave policy it’s using downward communication. So is an e-mail from a team leader to the member of her team, reminding them of an upcoming deadline.
Upward: Upward communication flows to a higher level in the group or organization. It’s used to provide feedback to higher-ups, inform them of progress towards goals, and relay current problems. Upward communication keeps managers aware of how employees feel about their jobs, coworkers, and the organization in general. Managers also rely on upward communication for ideas on how things can be improved.
Some organizational examples of upward communication are performance reports prepared by lower management or review by middle and top management suggestion boxes employee attitude surveys, grievance procedures, superior subordinate discussions and informal ‘group’ sessions in which employees have the opportunity to identify and discuss problems with their boss or representation of higher management. For example, FedEx prides itself on its computerized upward communication program. All its employees annually complete climate surveys and reviews of management. This program was cited as a key human strengthen by the Malcolm Baldrige National quality Award examiners when FedEx win the honor.
Lateral: When communication takes place among members of the same work group, among members of work groups at the same level, among managers at the same level, or among any horizontally equivalent personnel, we describe it as lateral communications.