Hierarchy Clarity Diagnostic
A 10-question diagnostic tool to assess whether an organization's hierarchy is clear or ambiguous before crisis reveals it.
A 10-question diagnostic tool to assess whether an organization's hierarchy is clear or ambiguous before crisis reveals it. Most organizations don't know their hierarchy clarity score until decision paralysis strikes.
When to Use Hierarchy Clarity Diagnostic
Use when experiencing decision paralysis, increasing meeting overhead, executive turnover, or before major organizational changes like mergers. Score <12 points requires immediate hierarchy clarification.
How to Apply
Administer the 10-Question Clarity Test
For each question, score: 2 points (clear), 1 point (ambiguous), 0 points (conflicted)
Questions to Ask
- Resource allocation: If two departments need the same budget, who decides?
- Strategic priorities: If Product and Sales disagree on roadmap, who wins?
- Hiring authority: Who has final say on senior hires?
- Cross-functional conflicts: When Engineering and Operations disagree, who decides?
- Budget overrides: Can anyone override the CFO's budget decisions?
- Meeting authority: In executive meetings, whose voice carries most weight?
- Veto power: Who can kill a project despite others' support?
- Conflict resolution: When peers disagree, who adjudicates?
- Strategic changes: Who can unilaterally change company direction?
- Succession clarity: If CEO disappeared tomorrow, who's in charge?
Calculate Total Score
Sum all question scores (0-20 possible)
Outputs
- Total clarity score
Interpret Results
16-20: Clear hierarchy (optimal). 11-15: Moderate ambiguity (functional but inefficient). 6-10: Significant ambiguity (crisis likely). 0-5: Hierarchy collapse imminent.
Outputs
- Clarity category
- Intervention urgency level
Intervene if Score <12
Scores below 12 require immediate hierarchy clarification through explicit authority assignment, org chart publication, and removal of 'collaborative decision' euphemisms.
Outputs
- Clarification action plan