Course: AR0103061 Training and Human Resources Development
Lesson 1: Using Training and Development to Address Human Resource Needs
Topic 6: The Organization’s Hierarchical Structure Page 1 of 3
Most organizational structures can be viewed as a pyramid, with the lower-echelon workers on the bottom and the decision-makers on the top.
The distance between top and bottom, and the number of levels within the pyramid, will vary from one company to another. As a general rule:
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The steeper the structure, the more levels of employees there are and the greater the distance between the lower echelons of the workforce and the decision-makers.
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The flatter the structure, the fewer internal levels and the less distance between the two levels.
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This hierarchical structure affects information flow throughout the organization.
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If the pyramid is very steep, it can slow down the speed of information. The longer information takes to get from one level to another, the less accurate it is likely to become.
A flat structure has fewer levels of authority, so information is more likely to flow faster and more accurately in both directions. (However, this structure will have implications on the supervisor-supervisee ratio and, consequently, on costs.)
Course : Training and Human Resources Development - Lesson 1 - Topic 6 - Page 1 of 3
