Most project (and non-project) managers prefer _____ communications.

Question

Options

• ALateral
• BOral
• CDownward
• DWritten
• EUpward

• A
  6% (2)
• B
  75% (27)
• C
  3% (1)
• D
  3% (1)
• E
  14% (5)

Explanation

Most project and non-project managers prefer oral (verbal) communication because it allows for immediate feedback, clarification, and two-way dialogue - making it faster and more interactive than written alternatives. Managers can gauge reactions, adjust tone, and resolve misunderstandings in real time, which is why face-to-face or phone conversations remain the default preference in day-to-day management.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A (Lateral) and C (Downward) / E (Upward) describe the direction of communication flow, not the medium - these are categorically different concepts and don't answer what managers "prefer."
• D (Written) is valuable for documentation and formal records, but it's slower, lacks immediacy, and doesn't support real-time feedback - so it's not the preferred mode, even though it's frequently used.

Memory tip: Think of a manager's natural instinct - when something urgent comes up, they call or walk over, not email. "Oral = Immediate" helps you remember that managers default to spoken communication for its speed and interactivity.

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