What term refers to the protocol that restricts personnel from communicating or sharing information outside their organizational units?

The term that refers to the protocol that restricts personnel from communicating or sharing information outside their organizational units is known as the chain of command. This concept establishes a structured hierarchy within an organization that dictates the flow of information and decision-making authority. By clearly defining who reports to whom, the chain of command helps ensure that sensitive or operational information is shared only with authorized personnel, maintaining control over the information dissemination process.

This is particularly important in emergency management and incident response scenarios, where effective communication and strategic decision-making can significantly impact the overall outcome. The established protocol within the chain of command helps prevent misinformation, confusion, and security breaches that can arise from unauthorized communication.

While other terms like unified command were developed for collaborative efforts across multiple agencies and incident action plans focus on outlining the objectives for incident response, they do not specifically address the protocol for communication restriction within organizational units. Similarly, span of control deals with the number of individuals a supervisor can effectively manage and does not pertain to communication protocols.