What is "Horizontalization"? How does it differ from the traditional vertical management model?
Okay, no problem! Let's talk about this topic in plain language.
What is "Horizontalization"? How is it Different from the Traditional Vertical Management Model?
Hey friend! Seeing this question reminds me of my time working at an old state-owned enterprise and later moving to an internet company – it felt like two totally different worlds. Let's use that framework to get "horizontalization" and "verticalization" crystal clear for you.
First, let's talk about the familiar one: Traditional "Vertical Management" 🚦
Think of it like a pyramid.
- Clear Structure, Strict Hierarchy: The top is the Big Boss (CEO, GM). Below them, layer after layer: VPs, Directors, Managers, Supervisors, and finally, us rank-and-file employees at the base. Want to talk to the Big Boss? Tell your supervisor, who tells their manager, who tells the director... it goes up layer by layer.
- Command & Control: The core idea is "obey orders." Instructions flow top-down. Results get reported bottom-up. Like the army: higher-ups command, lower ranks execute without too many questions.
- Thick Departmental Silos: You're in Marketing, he's in Tech, I'm in Sales. Everyone sticks to their own turf. Need cross-departmental collaboration for something? The process can take two weeks – you have to ask your boss, who talks to their boss... efficiency is slow.
In a nutshell: Verticalization is about "listening to the boss." People work in their defined "lanes," following processes and commands.
Now, the trendy one: "Horizontalization" 🚦
If vertical is a pyramid, horizontal is like a collaborative network, or think of it like a special forces team formed for a common mission.
- Flat Structure, or Even No Fixed Structure: The company might only have one or two big bosses, then just various project teams below. Fewer layers like "Director" or "Manager." People might have similar titles, all just "Engineer" or "Product Manager."
- Empowerment & Collaboration: The core is "working together towards goals." The company gives you a goal (e.g., increase user engagement), gives you resources and authority (empowerment), and you form or join a team to figure out how to achieve it. The team has tech, design, marketing – everyone brainstorms together, tries things quickly.
- Breaking Silos: There aren't really strict "walls." People organize around a "project" or a "customer problem." For example, to develop a new feature, product, design, development, testing, and operations folks are in the same "trench" from day one, communicating constantly and making decisions fast.
In a nutshell: Horizontalization is about "working together towards goals." People freely form teams around problems and projects to move quickly.
What are the key differences? See it at a glance!
To make it clearer, here's a simple comparison table:
| Feature | Vertical Management (Pyramid) | Horizontal Management (Network) |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational Structure | Hierarchical, layered reporting | Flat, cross-functional teams |
| Decision-Making | Top-down, leader decides | Distributed, team consensus |
| Information Flow | Vertical, slow | Free-flowing, fast |
| Work Focus | Following process, executing orders | Solving problems, achieving shared goals |
| Employee Role | "Cog," executor | "Partner," contributor |
| Typical Examples | Traditional manufacturing, government | Internet companies, startup teams |
| Core Strengths | Stable, controlled, clear roles | Flexible, innovative, rapid response |
| Core Weaknesses | Rigid, bureaucratic, slow innovation | Can be chaotic, roles/responsibilities unclear |
Why is everyone talking about "Horizontalization" now? 🚀
This connects to the book The World Is Flat in your tags. Simply put, times have changed:
- Speed is Life: Markets change incredibly fast, customer demands shift instantly. Vertical management, with its layered reporting, is too slow. By the time a report reaches the Big Boss, the opportunity is long gone. Horizontal teams can make quick decisions on the front lines.
- The Customer is King: It used to be "We make it, you buy it." Now it's "What do you need? We'll build it just for you." To serve customers well, you need people from all areas – marketing, tech, service – focused on them as one unit. Horizontal project teams are built for this.
- Technology Makes Collaboration Easier: Tools like Feishu, DingTalk, Slack make cross-department collaboration effortless, even if people aren't in the same office. It's like chatting in a WeChat group. Technology bulldozed the communication "walls."
In short, "Horizontalization" doesn't mean eliminating all management. It means empowering the front-line teams – those closest to the action and the customers – giving them more authority to respond quickly and flexibly to change. This is how companies survive and thrive in fierce competition.
Hope this explanation helps! 👍