Dear Bob ...A semi-theoretical question about how to organize IT: Does the chain of command pyramid have an alternative? The best teams I've worked on were relatively flat and they were silent because everyone knew what they had to do. Maybe that just means that at a certain size, a flat model is no longer practical and the only known alternative is a chain of command hierarchy. Maybe there are Dear Bob …A semi-theoretical question about how to organize IT: Does the chain of command pyramid have an alternative? The best teams I’ve worked on were relatively flat and they were silent because everyone knew what they had to do. Maybe that just means that at a certain size, a flat model is no longer practical and the only known alternative is a chain of command hierarchy. Maybe there are companies out there that do have an alternative that they think works, dunno.– Reorganizing Dear Reorganizing …I’ve heard of lots of experiments, matrix management being the best known. In the end, they all seem to break down because there always comes a time when someone has to make a decision.The question isn’t whether you have a chain of command. The questions that matter are: How steep it is – how many layers separate the person at the top from the people at the bottom, and how many direct reports each layer has in between.How people view it – as a definition of what their job isn’t, or as a description of everyone’s primary focus.The philosophy of its construction – is it arranged functionally, by business segment, or in some other fashion.The extent to which leaders rely on it as an information conduit.For the most part, flatter hierarchies that describe points of focus work better than steep hierarchies that define unbreachable siloes. The philosophy of its construction is a matter of form following function – there’s no right answer. As for its value as an information conduit, I’ve already commented on that.– Bob Technology Industry