What is lateral communication?

What is lateral communication?

• A. Communication across the same level of the organization among employees.
• B. Information from supervisors to subordinates.
• C. Upward feedback to management.
• D. Communication that flows between different departments only.

Answer: (A)

Lateral communication is the exchange of information among people at the same level in the organization, such as peers or team members, to coordinate tasks and share updates. This peer-to-peer flow helps teammates stay aligned without going up or down the chain of command. That’s why describing it as communication across the same level among employees is the best fit. The other forms are about different directions or scopes: information from supervisors to subordinates is downward communication, and upward feedback goes from staff to management. Communication that flows between departments only describes interdepartmental exchange, which is narrower and not the same as the general peer-to-peer, same-level sharing that lateral communication covers.

Lateral communication is the exchange of information among people at the same level in the organization, such as peers or team members, to coordinate tasks and share updates. This peer-to-peer flow helps teammates stay aligned without going up or down the chain of command. That’s why describing it as communication across the same level among employees is the best fit.

The other forms are about different directions or scopes: information from supervisors to subordinates is downward communication, and upward feedback goes from staff to management. Communication that flows between departments only describes interdepartmental exchange, which is narrower and not the same as the general peer-to-peer, same-level sharing that lateral communication covers.