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Difficulty: Very hardOrganizational Communication Channels and Ethics

In a state administrative department, routine operational coordination between field officers of two different wings is severely delayed due to strict adherence to the traditional scalar chain requiring every request to move upward to the department head and downward again. To resolve this without compromising organizational hierarchy or administrative ethics, the competent authority permits direct horizontal communication between the field officers for specific time-sensitive tasks, on the condition that both officers keep their immediate superiors fully informed through regular post-facto updates. Which organizational communication concept and administrative practice is illustrated in this scenario?

  1. Implementation of Fayol's Gangplank principle, facilitating authorized lateral communication across scalar chains while safeguarding administrative accountability.Answer
  2. B
    Initiation of punitive disciplinary action and total prohibition of lateral interactions to eliminate potential administrative leaks.
  3. C
    Exercise of aggressive executive authority to override organizational channels under the assumption of assertive administrative leadership.
  4. D
    Reclassification of scalar chain procedural delays as psychological communication noise rather than structural channel limitations.

Answer

Implementation of Fayol's Gangplank principle, facilitating authorized lateral communication across scalar chains while safeguarding administrative accountability.
The correct answer correctly identifies the Gangplank principle advocated by Henri Fayol. In public administration, while the scalar chain ensures strict chain of command, operational efficiency often necessitates lateral or diagonal communication. By keeping immediate superiors informed post-facto, officers maintain ethical compliance, transparency, and administrative accountability while avoiding bureaucratic delays.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the organizational scenario
Identified a situation where field officers across two branches bypass vertical scalar chains for urgent operational coordination while keeping superiors informed.
Understanding the structural flow of communication is essential to categorize the channel mechanism.
2
Evaluate communication channel principles
Recognized Fayol's Gangplank (bridge) mechanism, which allows direct lateral communication across hierarchical lines to prevent delays, provided supervisors approve and are updated.
Gangplank balances operational speed with ethical administrative hierarchy.
3
Differentiate from administrative error choices
Eliminated options involving extreme punitive administrative measures, misidentified aggressive behaviors, and confused communication barrier concepts.
Ensures accurate identification of valid organizational ethics and channel management.

Key Concept

Fayol's Gangplank and Lateral Organizational Communication Ethics
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Organizational Communication Channels and Ethics