ABSTRACT
A few years ago, as we all remember, there was a great deal of talk about the “end of hierarchy.” We would all be one big happy crew, sailing together on the same ship.Well, it hasn’t happened and it isn’t about to happen, for one simple reason: When the ship is going down, you don’t call a caucus-you give a command. There has to be somebody who says, “Enough dithering-this is it.” Without a decision maker, you’ll never make a decision. Moreover, as our corporate institutions become increasingly complex-technologically, economically, and socially-the more we need to know just who the ultimate authority is. So instead of discussing the disappearance or the weakening of top management, I want to focus on the new demands facing it.
