Hierarchical organization
Visualization
Visualization
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A hierarchy is typically visualized as a [pyramid](/wiki/Pyramid_%28geometry%29 "Pyramid (geometry)"), where the height of the ranking or person depicts their power status and the width of that level represents how many people or business divisions are at that level relative to the whole—the highest\-ranking people are at the [apex](/wiki/Apex_%28geometry%29 "Apex (geometry)"), and there are very few of them, and in many cases only one; the [base](/wiki/Base_%28geometry%29 "Base (geometry)") may include thousands of people who have no subordinates. These hierarchies are typically depicted with a [tree](/wiki/Tree_structure "Tree structure") or [triangle](/wiki/Triangle "Triangle") [diagram](/wiki/Diagram "Diagram"), creating an [organizational chart](/wiki/Organizational_chart "Organizational chart") or organogram. Those nearest the top have more power than those nearest the bottom, and there being fewer people at the top than at the bottom. As a result, superiors in a hierarchy generally have higher [status](/wiki/Social_status "Social status") and obtain higher [salaries](/wiki/Salary "Salary") and other rewards than their subordinates.Child (2019\)

Although the image of organizational hierarchy as a pyramid is widely used, strictly speaking such a pyramid (or organizational chart as its representation] draws on two mechanisms: [hierarchy](/wiki/Hierarchy "Hierarchy") and [division of labour](/wiki/Division_of_labour "Division of labour"). As such, a hierarchy can, for example, also entail a boss with a single employee.Jaques, E. (1996\), Requisite Organization: A Total System for Effective Managerial Organization and Managerial Leadership for the 21st Century (2nd edition). Arlington, TX: Cason Hall \& Co. [https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10\.4324/9781315088846/requisite\-organization\-elliott\-jaques](https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781315088846/requisite-organization-elliott-jaques) When such a simple hierarchy grows by subordinates specialising (e.g. in [production](/wiki/Production_%28economics%29 "Production (economics)"), [sales](/wiki/Sales "Sales"), and [accounting](/wiki/Accounting "Accounting")) and subsequently also establishing and supervising their own (e.g. production, sales, accounting) departments, the typical pyramid arises. This specialisation process is called [division of labour](/wiki/Division_of_labour "Division of labour").


Does the number of people at each level directly affect their power status?