PRESENTATION ON
Horizontal and Vertical
Communication
INTRODUCTION ON
CORPORATE COMMUNICATION
• TAKES PLACE EVERYWHERE
• FOCAL POINT OF ANY TRANSACTION OR
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
• SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS DEPENDS ON
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
• LIFEBLOOD OF EVERY ORGANISATION
CORPORATE
COMMUNICATION
VERTICAL
COMMUNICATION
DOWNWARD
COMMUNICATION
UPWARD
COMMUNICATION
HORIZONTAL
COMMUNICATION
Horizontal Communication
 Communication between equals in an organization
 Lateral or diagonal exchange of messages among
peers or coworkers.
Objectives of Horizontal
Communication
 To coordinate functions throughout the organisation
 To share information
 To solve problems
 To resolve conflicts
Drawbacks of Horizontal
Communication
 Increased specialization
 Lack of recognition and reward
 Suppression of Differences
 Ego clashes
Drawback of Horizontal
Communication
Horizontal
Communication
Increased in
Specialization
Lack of
recognition and
reward
Suppression of
Difference
Ego Clashes
Downwards Communication
 Occurs when information flow down through an
organization's formal chain of command
 Rules and mandates come down from the top
leadership
 Trickling down to the managers and eventually
reaching the employees
Transfer of information from top to
bottom in Downwards
Communication
• CEO/
Directors
• Managers and other supervisors
• Assistant managers and other
employees
Advantages of Downward
Communication
 Organizational discipline
 Efficiency
 Effective communication of goals
 Ease of delegation
DISADVANTAGES OF DOWNWARD
COMMUNICATION
DISTORTION
SLOW
FEEDBACK
LOWERS
MORALE
NOT
MOTIVATING
Upward Communication
 Flow of information from front line employees
to managers, supervisors, and directors.
Advantages of Upward
Communication
 Managers can get feedback from employees
that can help improve organizational
development.
 Mutual trust brings employees and managers
closer to each other.
 Employees can be instrumental in forming new
policies or changing those that are outdated.
DISADVANTAGES OF UPWARD
COMMUNICATION
ATTITUDES OF
SUBORDINATES
ATTITUDES OF
SUPERIOR
ORGANISATIONAL
STRUCTURE
SKIPPING RANKS
CEO/
Directors
Managers and other
supervisors
Assistant managers and other
employees

Business Communication - Horizontal & Vertical Communication