Hello, I think communication between project participants in PM is an important part of achieving results. We know that there is horizontal and vertical communication in the internal organization. When an employee of an internal organization communicates with a manager of an external organization, can it be called vertical communication? What's your opinion? Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Yurim,
with external communications, both sides act as agents of their respective home organizations. In a contractual relationship this is vertical, though the saying 'customer is king' suggests otherwise.
As a PM I need to set standards about external communication regarding the project. These need to align, monitor, streamline communications and set even roles. Remember, bad communications is mentioned as the No1 root cause for project problems. Saving Changes...
It really depends on the role which that manager is playing with regards to the project. Someone might be in a managerial job title but be reporting to the PM as a contributor towards their project.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Communication will happen whether [spell check needs to be checked] you like it (approve of it) or not. Communication itself is not the "important [as is rereading ones post] part of achieving results" - managed communication is. Saving Changes...
In your scenario, I would say that you have vertical communication at work. Regardless of the organizations of the sender and receiver, there is always an attempt to accommodate power levels. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
It does not matter, in my personal opinion. With that said, it could be possible I did not understand the point of the debate. Saving Changes...
Communications with stakeholders outside the company should be considered only as "external", and this communication could be formal or informal.
Vertical and horizontal communication modes are used when talking of "internal" communication types. Saving Changes...
I agree that the question of whether you want to call it vertical or horizontal communication is largely academic and that like many things, "it depends".
I would add though that it depends on both the external manager's role on the project, and your own based on your organizational culture.
In some organizations, a PM is empowered with the authority to be the prime point of contact between the customer and supplier relationships, and act more like peers despite being a PM and not a functional manager.
In other environments, the culture may be that managers talk to managers and PMs speak when spoken to when managers are talking. In that unfortunate situation where managers are very focused on the power structure above effective communication, it can be very much a vertical communication type situation. Saving Changes...
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