When hierarchy ([] or []) (Greek a Kompositum out hier - "“holy"” and "“arch"” - rule, order, principle) designates a system of elements, which are to over and/or subordinated each other. Strictly speaking (mono hierarchy) thereby each element at the most another element is directly superordinate, while with a Polyhierarchie also several elements are possible. Mathematically regarded a hierarchy requires an order relation, which defines a tree (mono hierarchy) or arranged acyclic graph (Polyhierarchie).

Organization (classification) or classification (classifying) of objects in hierarchy implied frequently priority, which is contained already in the ranking, according to which the objects are arranged. Therefore hierarchies are criticized frequently as means for the practice of rule. They are however simpler fundamental to seize than complex network architecture.

Examples

A classical example of a hierarchy are military ranks. However in practice the ranks do not reflect necessarily the actual command string again. Also in enterprises there is a hierarchy of Vorgesetzen and department managers, it is fixed in which who whom instructions to give can. Also with it it concerns however, usually due to numerous committees and say, rarely a purely hierarchical decision structure.

The jurisdiction with its instances, which can waive judgements of the subordinated instance in each case, is more strictly arranged. For the order of information classifications are a usual means. Also the hierarchical order of files in a listing structure is usual.

In biology organisms are arranged according to different criteria in hierarchical systematics, while the family tree of a person is theoretically clearly assignable.

Hierarchies in social systems

Related to social systems hierarchies are often with conditions by rule and authority connected - for example in the line organization of an enterprise, an authority, in military affairs or in the church. Hierarchies are also generally used for the order of objects for example in systematics. Figurativy hierarchies are compared frequently with a pyramid. The elements can be arranged usually in levels, whereby each element (up to the highest) is connected to several (Polyhierarchie) elements with (mono hierarchy) or the next higher in each case level only.

A structure like the network knows theoretically no hierarchy. Planned ones "„networks "“in the management economics with few rule elements take pretty often "„rule liberty up "“, are informally regularly not not hierarchy-free however.

Special kinds of hierarchical structures, which become also frequently synonymously related, are classifications or taxonomies.

See also

• Dyarchie, rule
• Gilles Deleuze, tree of the knowledge, Rhizom (philosophy)
• Organization (economics), line organization, Peter principle
• Hierarchical data base, hierarchical search

Articles in category "Hierarchy"

We found here 11 articles.

Related Websites

We found here 5 related websites.

• Catholic Hierarchy
  Current and historical information about the Bishops and Dioceses of the Catholic Hierarchy around the world.


• Chomsky
  The Chomsky


• Hierarchy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  For the various types of hierarchy, see hierarchy (disambiguation) ... The only direct links in a hierarchy are to one's immediate superior, ...


• Maslow's hierarchy of needs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the four lower levels are grouped together as deficiency needs ...


• The Geek Hierarchy | The Brunching Shuttlecocks
  The Geek Hierarchy by Lore Sj