Answer: This is an example of a manager using the grapevine as a managerial tool.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "grapevine" at work is members of the company who talk about things that are going on with other coworkers. It can also be known as gossip. Some things that go down a "grapevine" at a company is people who are going to quit, people who know secrets about others who may be high up in the company, and small things like why someone called in to work for the day. A manager can ignore the small things and focus on the larger and more serious issues that are spreading on the "grapevine." In this instance, the manager believed Jacob, and was able to stop a story from appearing in the newspaper. Some jobs try to eliminate the grapevine, but it can be a valuable tool at times.