function from the bottom to the top of the organization and there is little col-
laboration across functional departments. The entire organization is controlled
through the vertical hierarchy. An organic design, on the other hand, emphasizes collaborative teamwork rather than hierarchy. Structure is created around
horizontal workflows or processes rather than departmental functions, with
people working across department and organizational boundaries to solve problems. The vertical hierarchy is dramatically flattened, with perhaps only a few
senior executives in traditional support functions such as finance or human resources. Self-directed teams are the fundamental work unit in highly organic
organizations.