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

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  • Markus Reitzig

    (University of Vienna)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Reitzig, 2022. "How to get better at flatter designs: considerations for shaping and leading organizations with less hierarchy," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 11(1), pages 5-10, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jorgde:v:11:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s41469-022-00109-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s41469-022-00109-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Helge Klapper & Markus Reitzig, 2018. "On the effects of authority on peer motivation: Learning from Wikipedia," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(8), pages 2178-2203, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marcel Maurer & Norbert Bach & Simon Oertel, 2023. "Changes in formal structure towards self-managing organization and their effects on the intra-organizational communication network," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 12(3), pages 83-98, September.
    2. Edoardo Beretta & Christian Burkhalter & Pietro Camenisch & Cristina Carcano-Monti & Mauro Citraro & Michela Manini-Mondia & Fabrizio Traversa, 2024. "Organiblò : Engaging People in “Circular” Organizations and Enabling Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Constantinos Markides, 2022. "Boundary conditions for effective delegation in flat structures," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 11(1), pages 19-22, March.
    4. Alen BADAL, 2022. "Inclusion + Respect ≥ Effective Leadership," CrossCultural Management Journal, Fundația Română pentru Inteligența Afacerii, Editorial Department, issue 1, pages 69-64, July.
    5. Frank Martela, 2023. "Managers matter less than we think: how can organizations function without any middle management?," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 12(1), pages 19-25, June.
    6. Oliver Baumann & Brian Wu, 2023. "Managerial hierarchy in AI-driven organizations," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 12(1), pages 1-5, June.
    7. Oliver Baumann & Brian Wu, 2022. "The many dimensions of research on designing flat firms," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 11(1), pages 1-3, March.
    8. Olav Sorenson, 2022. "Flat firms, complementary choices, employee effort, and the pyramid principle," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 11(1), pages 11-14, March.

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