Dichotomizing THEE Hierarchies

Nature of the Issue

In examining stratification within organizations, I found that the seven taxonomic levels of management were commonly divided into two parts. Investigation revealed that every possible division found its way into popular consciousness....even if the 7 levels remained mysterious. See details here.

The nature of the division was traced to 6 different ways that power comes into play.

Two issues immediately arise:

  1. Generalization. Does this sort of division occur in every THEE hierarchy? Or in a specific class of THEE hierarchies?
  2. Etiology. If it does arise elsewhere, is the cause once again power? Or is it something else?

In order to pursue this puzzle, I considered two other different hierarchies.

Primary Hierarchy of Purpose which is well validated and well-understood. It is not difficult to determine splits and here are the findings (without explanation of their use and relevance for now).

Root Hierarchy which is the foundation of the whole taxonomy and governs our creation and handling of psychosocial reality.

Hierarchy of Purpose-PH6

1+6 Split

Dichotomy Conjecture:  

Spiritual v Temporal, Godlike v Human
Humanity v Society

The upper section is easily forgotten or viewed as nebulous and unnecessary in the hurly-burly of life. Those in society, over-identified with their culture and ideologies, readily commit atrocities that ultimate values should forbid.

The practicalities of the lower section may be too easily ignored by those who preach values.

2+5 Split

Dichotomy Conjecture:  

Social v Organizational
Group v Person

 

 

 

 

 

3+4 Split

Dichotomy Conjecture:  

Context v Operations
Standards v Projects
Ideals v Realities

 

 

 

 

 

4+3 Split

Dichotomy Conjecture:  

Vision v Reality
X v Y

 

 

 

 

 

5+2 Split

Dichotomy Conjecture:  

Values v Objectives
Abstract v Concrete

 

 

 

 

 

6+1 Split

Dichotomy Conjecture:  

Meaning v Mechanism
Purpose v Expedience

 

 

 

 

 

Originally posted: 22-Feb-2013