A ‘flat’ organizational structure - In or Out ?

DEBATING TODAY -
Corporations and other businesses should try to eliminate the many ranks and salary grades that classify employees according to their experience and expertise. A ‘flat’ organizational structure is more likely to encourage collegiality and cooperation among employees.



Ah an awaited one.. all the frustrations bottle necked ..scream it on !! kidding ... ignore !!
To begin, we know the subject Organizational Behaviour; courtesy The Engineering curriculum - which clearly with all diagrammatic representations, explains the top-down pyramidal structure of an Organization and how these giants have verified this over and over again with time. What precisely is this structure for? I am sure many of you will be able to answer that yet for those who ponder --- An Org Structure defines the roles, positions & responsibilities with right and duties of a group of people at every level. On top of this resides a Central Decision making committee who we very popularly know as the "Top Management". It basically talks of a hierarchy concept of subordination of entities that collaborate and contribute to serve one common aim.


I wish the Organization and it`s manager strictly abides by the definition, coz many of of us have faced the tantrums, whims and moods of the "person on top" and screwed up what we so rightly wanted to shape-"my carrier". I do not intend to go far and pick up case studies, as I stand to quote examples of two very good friends, who planned to do the Post Grad right after the completion of Grad and ended up resigning from the Job, in a span as short as 6 months, just because they could not face "The Bosses Attitude" and some trivial matters that accompany. I Placed myself into the shoes of both the Boss and the bossed. For some time, as friends are always dear, they seemed right and we end up abusing the attitude guy with all the wonderful phrases we could then recollect. But with the pass of time, I was a little confused, Are my friends lacking the experience and endurance that is of prime importance to survive in an Industry? or Is it actually the hierarchy system that makes the upper level think they are Gods holding the string of our lives?


I still stand confused or may be u can say siding with no one. If I look at the growth of an organization- systematic and orderly, this hierarchy is clearly in place and correct, but then if I turn to look at the called victims - the employees, I call this crap n shit. Is it that no hierarchy works well only in small organizations? A hierarchy system a mandate for giants in corperate industry with a man power over 50,000 employees? I am bewildered !

Amazing ideas of a flat organization would be better communication, high team spirit,less bureaucracy and easier decision making, also fewer levels of management includes benefits such as lower costs as managers are generally paid more than worker, but This may hinder the growth of an organization, Workers will have more than one boss!! Function of each department/person could be blurred and merge into the job roles of others. Is it leading to growth?? I guess not. May be my brain is still not ready to think as hard as an entrepreneur, or may be he has a much simpler thought that makes things easy. To me both structures seem correct in their own way.


People .. let me know what is your philosophy behind your mindset. Me waiting eagerly !!