Taylor's prescriptions for organizational structure were a radical departure from previous practices. Previously, the military model of organization had prevailed stressing unity of command at each level of the organizational and culminating in a single executive body at the apex of an organization pyramid. Under this arrangement, the foreman was responsible for a wide range of functions, including hiring, training, Supervising, and firing his subordinates, Foremen were often hired on a contract basis and simply charged with getting the work done, with little direction from management.