Chapter 4: Organisational Structure

In chapter IV in ‘The Prince’: ‘Why the Kingdom of Darius, which was conquered by Alexander, did not revolt against the successors of Alexander after his death’ Machiavelli a.o. states that all principalities have either been governed by one absolute prince or else by a prince and nobles. He states that a principality ruled by one absolute prince is difficult to enter, but once conquered, it is easily held. Whereas a principality ruled by a prince and nobles is easy to enter but difficult to maintain.

To what extent do Machiavelli’s thoughts apply to the roles and responsibilities of modern leaders from different countries, cultures and trades? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a top-down or a flat organisation in terms of communication and decision making, and just how dependent is the organisation on the leader and vice versa?

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Participants:
  Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
  Jokke
  Dame Anita Roddick
  John Dunn
  Katie Ford
  Steven Hilton
  Lynda Curtis
  Richard Valdemar
  Jim Buckmaster
  Bruce Cohen