Non-hierarchical emergent structure: a case study in alternative management

Abstract

"Most well established organizations beyond a certain size adopt a hierarchical structure and accompanying bureaucracy as a means to organize and coordinate the work of the organization. This case study describes a medium-sized family-run organization in the US, with 600 employees and Dollar 2 billion in sales turnover, which functions without formal management structures or titles. Data collected through personal observation and interviews reveal emergent structures, partly in response to the alternative management approach. The paper describes these alternative management methods, the advantages and disadvantages, as well as the conditions that make this approach possible. The paper concludes by discussing the transferability and suitability of these methods to organizations in general." (author's abstract)