Beneath the Surface of Less-Hierarchical Organizing

Abstract

Despite the longstanding predictions of hierarchy’s demise, scholarly understanding of the prospects and dynamics of organizing without hierarchy has made little genuine progress. This lack of progress is perhaps due in part to a focus on an overly narrow set of questions. While most extant research has explored whether or not less-hierarchical organizing produces positive outcomes, little research has explored the conditions under which less-hierarchical organizing is effective. This symposium aims to go beneath the surface of our current understanding by investigating the contingencies and boundary conditions that govern when less-hierarchical organizing “works.” We include four papers that explore the contingencies related to different facets or outcomes of less-hierarchical organizing. Following the presentations, Stuart Bunderson, one of the most pre-eminent scholars on hierarchy in teams and organizations, will facilitate a group discussion about these papers and future research in this area. Market Actor or Movement Member? Contingencies of Viable Workplace Democracy Presenter: Trevor Daniel Young-Hyman; U. of Pittsburgh Presenter: Natalie Magne; U. of Montpelier-Paul Valery Presenter: Douglas Kruse; Rutgers U. Is Self-Management for Everyone? Exploring Who Thrives in Less-Hierarchical Structures Presenter: Michael Yanche Lee; INSEAD Peering Through the Glass Door: The Cultural Attributes of “Less Hierarchical” Firms Presenter: Arianna Marchetti; INSEAD Presenter: Phanish Puranam; INSEAD How to Accelerate Innovation Without Killing It Presenter: Hila Lifshitz-Assaf; New York U. Presenter: Lior Zalmanson; Tel Aviv U.