The lattice that has replaced the corporate ladder

Benko, C. & Anderson, M. (2011, March 16) The lattice that has replaced the corporate ladder. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/2011/03/16/corporate-lattice-ladder-leadership-managing-hierarchy.html#582da7713228

Summary

This article summarizes the evolving change in corporations from a more up-and-down ladder structure, to more of a cross-linked lattice structure. Where in days past things like status, power, influence were dictated by the rung you were on the ladder and career advancement was strictly a matter of moving up the ladder. By contrast, today’s companies are using structures that enable career development up, down, laterally or diagonally. A lattice structure focuses more on learning, collaboration, and information flow, thereby creating a work environment that is both more inclusive and one more adept to broader levels of organization leaning and understanding.

Experience

Currently, I believe I work in a more lattice type of an organization. In fact, I think we call it by another name… a matrixed organization. Multiple reporting lines and responsibilities woven into a matrix, or in this case, a lattice. I’ve made a career out of moving around my current organization. In that way, I have gained a fairly broad-based understanding of our business. In fact, our organization actively encourages people to move around. Not to let the grass grow too much under your feet, as it were. I’ve noted that those who are most successful in my organization are those who have explored many opportunities across the company.

KEYWORDS: lattice, learning, collaboration, inclusive, matrix, managing complexity, collaborative leadership