Operating Principle

2–4 min read

Flattening a Hierarchy Redistributes Coordination Work, Doesn’t Remove It

Flattening a Hierarchy Redistributes Coordination Work, Doesn’t Remove It

Flattening a Hierarchy Redistributes Coordination Work, Doesn’t Remove It

Removing a management layer moves coordination work rather than erasing it.

Removing a management layer moves coordination work rather than erasing it.

Removing a management layer moves coordination work rather than erasing it.

Flattening fails when displaced coordination has no explicit new owner.

Flattening fails when displaced coordination has no explicit new owner.

Flattening fails when displaced coordination has no explicit new owner.

Flattening fails when displaced coordination has no explicit new owner.

Explore fractional CMO leadership →

Operating Question

What reporting line, decision right, team boundary, or informal network is shaping this outcome?

What reporting line, decision right, team boundary, or informal network is shaping this outcome?

What reporting line, decision right, team boundary, or informal network is shaping this outcome?

Why It Matters

Flattening fails when displaced coordination has no explicit new owner.

Supporting Evidence

Research on flattening and holacracy experiments.

Research Notes

Match the structural choice to actual coordination needs, task complexity, and organizational context.

Practical Actions

Assign displaced work; match authority to load; monitor coordination gaps.

Continue Reading

Main Journal

All entries

Return to the complete Operator Journal library.

Main Journal

All entries

Return to the complete Operator Journal library.

Next Observation

Next article

Keep moving through the field notes.

Open the next observation

Next Observation

Next article

Keep moving through the field notes.

Open the next observation

One useful email a month. Zero daily ‘quick updates.’ Your inbox has suffered enough.