What is a flat organizational structure?

A flat organizational structure is a type of business structure that does not have multiple layers between the company's day-to-day staff members and high-level executives. There is not a significant amount of middle management in a flat organizational structure.

Employees who work for a company that has a flat organizational structure generally report directly to the president of the company or another high-level executive instead of reporting to a midlevel manager who then reports to the executive. Management in a flat organizational structure has a higher number of reports than in other types of organizational structures. However, decisions are often made more quickly.