What is a possible consequence of poor quality lateral communication within an organization?

Poor quality lateral communication within an organization can significantly impair the ability of teams and departments to work together effectively. When communication between peers or across different departments is unclear or insufficient, it hampers coordination. This lack of coordination can lead to various issues, such as duplicated efforts, inconsistent messaging, and missed opportunities for collaboration. Departments may not be aware of each other's activities, goals, or challenges, which can result in inefficiencies and misalignment in achieving the organization's objectives.

While the other options mention potential issues such as direction, delegation, and control, these are not the primary consequences of poor lateral communication. Lack of direction is typically more related to poor vertical communication from management to staff. Lack of delegation focuses on the inability to assign tasks effectively, which is influenced by different factors beyond lateral communication. Lastly, lack of control refers to the ability to monitor and direct activities within the organization more generally, which may be affected by other processes and mechanisms rather than just communication between peers. Thus, the most direct consequence of poor lateral communication is the lack of coordination among organizational members.