Which statement best describes lateral communication?

• A. It is communication across the same level of the organization among employees.
• B. It flows from the top to bottom.
• C. It goes from one department to outside agencies.
• D. It is only written correspondence.

Answer: (A)

Lateral communication is the flow of information between people at the same level in an organization, such as peers or colleagues across departments, to coordinate tasks and share information without going up or down the chain of command. The statement that describes communication across the same level among employees captures this horizontal, peer-to-peer exchange that enables coordination and problem-solving across units. The other options refer to vertical (top-down) communication, external communication to outside agencies, or a medium bias (written only), none of which define the horizontal, internal nature of lateral communication.