I have a number of thoughts on the subject of organizational structures. I used to build 3 dimensional models for fun and found a number of really interesting views. For starters, organizations are complex organic structures, yet visualizations of them rarely move beyond the two-dimensional, hierarchical model:
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I imagined myself within the structure of the traditional two dimensional org chart. What I saw was that there was a clear vertical line of movement upward. After having attempted to chart one "extremely" (as I discovered) large corporation it felt as if I was looking up at a skyscraper from the sidewalk. The top level so distant, almost obscured from view.
The only direction for the individual to move within this paradigm is up; consequently, value is ascribed to various roles based on their position within the hierarchy. The inter-connectivity and relational nature of different departments and roles is not portrayed and co-operation and lateral movement is discouraged...
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By re-imagining the organization as a three-dimensional manipulative, relationships can be depicted more accurately: inter-departmental and even inter-organizational connections can be explored and the complexity of the organization and its relational ties can be more fully appreciated. In this context, the worth of an individual role is not subjective; it is not at the bottom of a tree or on the edge of a chart - it is radial and defined by connections, whether formal or informal, to all other positions within the structure.
There are 3 images below expressing the relative position of one memeber of an organization (Joe).
Traditional org chart1 - FMD
Radial org chart1 - FMD
The organisation charts clearly depicted the role of each individual at different levels of the organisational structure.
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