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"Corporations and other businesses should try to eliminate the many ranks and salary grades that classify employees according to their experience and expertise. A 'flat' organizational structure is more likely to encourage collegiality and cooperation among employees."

My response:

The author asserts that corporations and businesses should eliminate ranks and adopt a 'flat' organizational structure that will encourage cooperation and collegiality. Although such a policy intends to promote equality and cooperation, it would disturb the equilibrium of an organizational structure in more ways than one.

First and foremost, the concept of a 'flat structure' does not agree with the basic principles of growth. In a competitive, ever-expanding corporate environment, the concept of a 'flat' structure fails at the fundamental level where achievement is the mantra of the hour. Employees at various firms are fighting tooth and nail to achieve success for themselves and their firms. Without the incentives of betterment and growth, the efficiency and productivity of an employee and in sum,that of a firm, would hit ground zero. For example, if the boss of Company X walks in to work and tells his most efficient employee that everybody would be treated at par as far as ranks and salary grades are concerned, the employee would definitely resign.

Secondly, an authoritative figure is essential to every human family, be it a corporate organization or your own home. The lack of an authoritative figure would create havoc among employees.The necessity of a father figure is absolutely essential to the smooth functioning of an organization.All disputes and disagreements would go unattended and unresolved. The concept of cooperation and collegiality is not at flaw but the proposed manner of implementation is definitely at flaw.

Last but not the least, people educate themselves and qualify themselves for the most elite jobs. A 'flat' structure would undermine the achievements of aspiring employees and demotivate the ones who have just set out to achieve their goals. Aspirants would get laid back and have no incentive whatsoever to achieve their targets.

To sum it up, the author's view that a 'flat' structure would be the best step forward for promoting cooperation and collegiality is not in harmony with how employees in organizations prefer to operate and will prove deterrent to the progress of individuals and organizations.