Final answer:
The statement is false; communication between managers at the same level is considered horizontal, not upward communication. An authoritarian group leadership would exhibit top-down communication flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
Melinda, a company department manager, frequently communicates via text messages with other department managers within the company. This is an example of horizontal communication flow because it occurs between managers at the same level of the organization.
That statement is false; it is not an example of an upward flow of communication, which typically refers to communication that goes from subordinate to superior within the company hierarchy. For instance, an upward communication would be when a staff member reports to their department manager.
An authoritarian type of group leadership has a communication pattern that flows from the top down. In contrast, organizations with flat organizational structures encourage feedback across all levels, supporting more collegial relationships with managers and co-workers. An expressive leader, such as the director of a summer camp for chronically ill children, typically focuses on group morale and relationships, rather than strict top-down communication.