nonhierarchical
Lacking formal tiers
Nonhierarchical describes systems, organizations, or relationships that lack ranked levels of authority.
In a nonhierarchical workplace, decisions are made collectively rather than flowing down from bosses: The cooperative operates on a nonhierarchical basis.
The term appears frequently in discussions of alternative governance, flat organizational structures, and egalitarian social arrangements.
Lacking vertical variation
- horizontalParallel to the horizon
- decentralizedLacking single authority
- lateralOf the side
- networkedLinked for data exchange
peer-to-peer · distributed · matrix · cross-functional · team-based · unlayered · leaderless · self-organizing
Identical in amount
- equitableJust and unbiased
- democraticGovernment by the people
- inclusiveCovering all members
- participatoryInvolving active contribution
shared · communal · peer · cooperative · fair · impartial · unranked · classless
Lacking vertical variation
- levelHorizontal or uniform position
- uniformIdentical throughout
- undifferentiatedNot separated into types
- homogeneousAlike in composition throughout
even · linear · parallel · symmetrical · untiered · unstratified · ungraded · nonlinear
flat
Lacking vertical variation
- horizontalParallel to the horizon
- decentralizedLacking single authority
- lateralOf the side
networked · peer-to-peer · distributed · matrix · cross-functional · team-based · unlayered · leaderless · self-organizing · collaborative
equal
Identical in amount
- equitableJust and unbiased
- democraticGovernment by the people
- inclusiveCovering all members
participatory · shared · communal · peer · cooperative · fair · impartial · unranked · classless · socialist
flat
Lacking vertical variation
- levelHorizontal or uniform position
- uniformIdentical throughout
- undifferentiatedNot separated into types
homogeneous · even · linear · parallel · symmetrical · untiered · unstratified · ungraded · nonlinear · nodal
nonhierarchicalhierarchical
Organized by rank
ranked · stratified · vertical · tiered · top-down
hierarchy, hierarchical, hierarchies, hierarchically, hierarchic, hierarch