Question

A flowchart of business hierarchy for an airport. Maintenance Personnel report to the Maintenance Foreman who reports to the Deputy Director Operations and Construction. Aircraft Rescue, Fire Fighting and Airport Security report to the Public Safety and Noise Manager who reports to the Deputy Director of Operations and Construction. The Administrative Assistant reports to the Deputy Director of Properties and H R. The Deputy Directors of Operation and Construction, Properties and H R, and Finance report to the Airport Director who reports to the Airport Board.

The Deputy Director of Operations and Construction sent a schedule of airport construction projects to the other deputies at the airport. This is an example of which type of organizational message?
a.
informal grapevine
b.
formal lateral
c.
formal downward
d.
formal upward

Answer 1

b. formal lateral

Reason: The message is an official schedule sent between deputies who are at the same organizational level (peer-to-peer), so it's lateral (horizontal) communication and formal because it concerns official business through proper channels.