Horizontal Communication

What will be an ideal response?

Much information needs to be shared among people on the same hierarchical level. Such horizontal communication can take place among people in the same work team or in different departments. For example, a purchasing agent discusses a problem with a production engineer, and a task force of department heads meets to discuss a particular concern. Communicating with others outside the firm, including potential investors, is another vital type of horizontal communication.106

Horizontal communication serves several important functions.107 It shares information, coordinates activities, and allows problem solving among units. Effective dialogue between disagreeing individuals and units helps resolve conflict constructively.108 By allowing interaction among peers, it provides social and emotional support to people. All these factors contribute to morale and effectiveness.