How can a Company Remain Flat?

How can a Company Remain Flat?

Most companies, if not all start with a "Flat" organization. With that structure they become successful and grow and eventually end up with a "Tall" organization, unknowingly, as a result of business growth and expansion. The structure and processes become more complicated so there is a need for more controls, staff clock up long service and are being promoted, etc.

1. How can a company remain flat and at the same time provide enough checks and balance?
2. How do you know that your organization is "Tall"?
3. How flat is flat enough?

		Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
	Ways of Making an Organization Flat A flat organization has an organizational structure with relatively few or no levels of middle management between the work floor and executives. Typically this is achieved by elevating the level of responsibility of baseline employees and at the same time eliminating layers of middle management. A (strong) form in which this can be achieved is by establishing self-managing teams.

		David Wilson Manager, Canada
	Making Public Organizations Flat Ensuring a wide span of control and limiting the n...