Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) Practice Exam

Your company CEO recorded a 'state of the company' video and asked you to post it on the company intranet. This is an example of what type of communication?

1. Upward communication

2. Downward communication

3. Electronic communication

4. Digital communication

The correct answer is: Downward communication

The selection of downward communication is appropriate in this scenario. Downward communication refers to the flow of information from higher levels of the organizational hierarchy to lower levels. In this case, the CEO, who is at the top of the corporate structure, is communicating important company updates and messages directly to employees through the recorded video. This method ensures that information is disseminated clearly and efficiently from leadership to all employees, which is a characteristic feature of downward communication. Moreover, while electronic and digital communication capture the medium through which the message is conveyed, the emphasis in this situation lies in the direction of the communication flow—moving from a higher authority to the employees—thus reaffirming that it is a prime example of downward communication.