horizontalization

Horizontalization refers to a trend or process where structures, organizations, or systems become flatter, with fewer hierarchical levels. Instead of a traditional top-down pyramid, horizontalization emphasizes distributed decision-making, collaboration, and equal participation among individuals or teams. This can manifest in various contexts.

In business, horizontalization often involves flattening organizational structures, reducing the number of management layers, and empowering employees. This can lead to increased agility, faster communication, and improved employee morale as individuals feel more ownership and autonomy. It can also involve companies expanding their product lines or services to cover a broader range of offerings within the same market level, rather than focusing on vertical integration (controlling different stages of production).

In technology, horizontalization can describe the development of open standards and platforms that allow various applications and services to interoperate. This contrasts with vertical integration, where a single company controls all aspects of a technology stack. The internet itself is a prime example of horizontalization, enabling a vast array of independent content creators and service providers to connect and interact.

In education, horizontalization might involve curriculum design that emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and connections between different subjects, rather than strict segmentation. The core idea across all these domains is the reduction of strict stratification and the promotion of more interconnected and accessible relationships.