How to get better at flatter designs: considerations for shaping and leading organizations with less hierarchy

Abstract

Working with fewer hierarchical layers than has been the case traditionally is often considered critical for firms to become more innovative, speedier, and retain and attract gifted personnel in today’s world. The upside appears great, but so do the associated risks of creating a dysfunctional organization. I propose that systematically thinking through a series of classic organization design questions to shape a custom-tailored design is promising when delayering grown hierarchies or growing start-ups to remain flat. More promising than adopting any one fashionable management approach wholesale.