大象传媒

Most companies around the world exist with some form of hierarchy. Usually it is a vertical structure, with executive above management, which is in turn above the workforce. But there is another form, a 鈥渇lat鈥� hierarchy. Long promulgated by tech companies and start-ups in particular, flat or horizontally-structured companies operate on the principle of 鈥淏e your own boss.鈥� Everyone chooses their agenda, their pace and in principle there is no boss to upbraid you if you make a mistake. So does it work? David Heinemeier Hansson is a founder and partner at the web services company Basecamp, a company with a 鈥渇lat as possible鈥� structure. He gives his thoughts on being the boss of people when they are their own boss. We also hear from Drew Dudley, author of This is Day One and Andr茅 Spicer, professor of organisational behaviour at Cass Business School, on the potential pitfalls of flat hierarchies.

Image: Silhouetted faces in a boardroom (Credit: Getty Images)