Hierarchy and Organisation

Thomas Diefenbach is Professor of Business Ethics and Organisation Studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Japan. His research focuses on socio-philosophical and critical analysis of organisations, individuals within organisations, the morality of human behaviour and the ethical dimensions of social systems. In his latest monograph Management and the Dominance of Managers (2009) he developed a comprehensive and multi-dimensional model for critically investigating managers' power, interests, and ideology within an organisational context.

"This book opens up a fascinating and informative vista in which hierarchies are everywhere being established, and, sooner or later, dismantled. Thomas Diefenbach presents a detailed and insightful analysis of what hierarchy means in today’s world, especially in the contemporary workplace. This book is essential for students and researchers interested in the way power and domination solidifies into hierarchies in organizations and society." – Peter Fleming, University of London, UK"Diefenbach’s Hierarchy in Organisations is a timely investigation into a social issue affecting the everyday life of everyone. It is an exciting and exquisite look into the pathologies of hierarchies explaining why hierarchies have persisted for thousands of years. Diefenbach’s work makes one reflect on something we have, perhaps unconsciously, grown accustomed to. He shows that life devoid of hierarchies remains an important option in advancing the ‘human condition.’" – Thomas Klikauer, University of Western Sydney, Australia

• 1. Introduction 2. The Longevity of Hierarchy 3. A General Theory of Hierarchical Social Systems 4. Application of the Theory – How Hierarchy Works 5. Socrates – the Un-Normal Normal Person Who Won by Losing 6. Why Things (Almost Always) Don’t Change