Final answer:
For a department of 50 employees, the best printer connection to allow multiple user access to a single laser jet printer is Ethernet, as it enables network sharing suitable for an office environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When configuring a laser jet printer for use by a large department, the aim is to ensure that all 50 employees can access the printer readily without needing individual printers. To facilitate multiple user access to a high-quality laser printer, which relies on a xerographic process for printing, the most effective connection type would be Ethernet.
Ethernet allows the printer to be connected to a network, enabling multiple computers to send print jobs to a single printer. This contrasts with connections such as USB, Parallel, and Bluetooth, which are typically designed for single-user or close-proximity usage. Ethernet networking is suitable for office environments where a high volume of print tasks from various users needs to be managed effectively.