Question

Because communication is frequently biased when flowing upward, subordinates may:

Answer 1

Answer: The answer is A). filter information and tell their superiors only what they think the boss wants to hear.

N.B "tell their bosses everything they know about the subject" is another option; it is not a continuation of option A

Explanation: Subordinates would do this because they want a reward or try to exaggerate their performances to their bosses. Also, subordinates might not want to talk with the boss because the boss doesn't know how to communicate in a way that the subordinate can trust.

Answer 2

Answer: Option A - Subordinates may FILTER INFORMATION AND TELL THEIR SUPERIORS ONLY WHAT THEY THINK THE BOSS WANTS TO HEAR

Explanation:

Upward communication involves the flow or passage of information from the front line employees to managers, then to supervisors and then to the directors of the organization.

Some advantages of the upward communication flow are:

*** Managers can obtain feedback from their employees which can help to enhance the development of the organization.

*** It helps in introducing new policies. Frontline employees who directly do the work daily can furnish the managers on information regarding the workability of certain principles and procedures. Therefore employees are key to formation of new policies or erasing of obsolete ones.

*** It assists in motivating employees. Since this style of communication allows front line employees or lower level staff to express their opinions to the upper level staff.they (the subordinates)then become motivated to work harder towards meeting the organization's targets since they are offered a sense of belonging.

*** It provides avenue for reasonable and constructive suggestion.

The disadvantages of the upward communication are:

**** Flattery. So as to convince the upper level staff or the bosses, the lower level staff may involve flattery.In this process, the subordinates may hide or cover the true situation of things and give out haphazard or half-baked information to their bosses

**** Indiscipline: A few times, directly communicate to their bosses and bypass the chain of command. This is simply indiscipline.

**** The risk of distortion of messages: This form of communication can enable subordinates to tamper with the messages. They do this due to the fear or speculation that they may encounter problems if they reveal the true position of things to their bosses.

Going back to the question - Because communication is biased when flowing upwards, subordinates FILTER INFORMATION AND TELL THEIR SUPERIORS ONLY WHAT THEY THINK THE BOSS WANTS TO HEAR

This is in confirmation or agreement of the first disadvantage of the upward communication flow which talked about "flattery".