According to www.business dictionary.com the definition of a hierarchical organization is as follows:

“Common, pyramid-like organization where one person is in charge of a functional area (engineering, finance, marketing) with one or more subordinates handling the sub-functions. In an hierarchical organization (whether business, military, political, or religious) higher levels imply greater superiority and domination than the lower ones, and the chain of command extends straight from the top to the bottom.”

The hierarchical organization is common in our society as you can see from the definition. It is common in business, military, political and religious organizations. When belonging to a hierarchical organization one gives up one’s freedom to some degree or another. Of course the higher that one is in the hierarchy the more freedom and more control of the organization one has. As a member of the Air Force for more than twenty years I reached the rank of Master Sergeant. I had more input into the organization than an Airman but not near the input of a General. At the top of the military hierarchy is the President of the United States. The president has full control of the military. If a subordinate does not agree with the commander-in-chief the subordinate, especially one of the lowly enlisted ranks has very few options but to obey the president or suffer the consequences. The subordinate does have some control as when his/her enlistment is up she/he can leave the military. As a citizen the military member can also vote for his/her choice as commander–in-chief and can even write in someone. That’s about it. Even if the subordinate leaves he/she still has to be complicit in some way to all actions of the commander-in-chief as the subordinate will always have to pay taxes to support military decisions or else suffer the penalties of tax evasion, fines or maybe even some prison time. Another hierarchical organization with a very powerful head (if you decide to empower him) is the Catholic Church. For those that subject themselves to the Pope’s power and control there is little one can do but do as the Pope says. Perhaps you wish to do this. That is your choice and I say less not more power to you. Choices are beautiful. The Pope is an absolute dictator who answers to no one but his version of God. However if one finds that he/she can no longer live under the hierarchical control of the Pope there is something one can do. It won’t do much good to try to change the hierarchical system unless the Pope wants to give up some control as did John XXIII. Like in all hierarchical systems the absolute head of the system usually cares less what the low level members want as opposed to conserving the organization no matter its functionality or disfunctionality. The system is not designed for the upper levels to serve the lower levels of the hierarchy but vice versa. Like with the military system one can choose to leave the Catholic Church and no longer give one’s freedom away to the hierarchy. There is one more thing that the lowly member of the religious hierarchy can do that the former military member turned civilian citizen cannot do without reprisal. That action is to take away financial support from the organization. So, if one does not agree with the workings of the hierarchy don’t support the hierarchy financially. That’s really the only power one has in the lower levels of a hierarchy. However, if one agrees with the organization stay and support it. If not, leave and don’t support it. We all have those choices.