Publication Date
Spring 5-16-2017
Document Type
Capstone project: Open access
Degree Name
MA Leadership Studies
Department
Leadership Studies
Abstract
My capstone project started with challenging myself into designing a different structure than what is commonly utilized in the American workforce. I have come up with a model, that is not just structured differently, but a model that involves an entire culture within. According to my environmental scanning work, there are just five typical (more so traditional than typical) hierarchy models. I believe that the scarcity in available models gives for limitations in ways that an organization can perform, and even more saddening, when the organization does not take into consideration that they could resolve a lot of issues within their organization by ensuring that their hierarchy model is tailored for the uniqueness of their organization. Taking into consideration a non-profit organization that is centered around altruistic service towards a community, having it structured like a corporation pyramid would not make sense...
According to my environmental scanning, there are just five traditional hierarchy structures, ever since the industrial revolution, with the pyramid hierarchy structure being the most popular model. The pyramid structure is also known as the vertical structure, as the tree structure, and so forth. This structure has the front-line staff on the very base (or the bottom) and as you move up the chain of command, the scope of authority increases. Front-line staff, to mid- level managers, to directors, to Deputy Directors to Executive Directors at the very top, which
3
Keller Model – Applied Research Project
resembles a pyramid or a tree. America is now around 240 years old, and for America to have just five existing hierarchy structures, is unbelievable. Due to the limited number of hierarchy structures available, organizations all over the nation are forced to fall back to the traditional pyramid structure. In an ever-changing world, everything needs to be updated to keep up with the generational gap that humankind makes at a demanding rate. Everyone’s phones, cars, clothing, technology, education, anything and everything is constantly changing. Why, then, are hierarchy structures left on the shelves to collect dust, and not being updated to keep up with the ever-changing world we live in.
Digital USD Citation
Keller, Scott J., "Examining Hierarchy Structures in Non-Profits; The Keller Model" (2017). M.A. in Leadership Studies: Capstone Project Papers. 15.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/solesmalscap/15