#hierarchy #balance #system Challenges faced by hierarchies 1. Suboptimization -- when a subsystem’s goals dominate at the expense of the total system’s goals ([[The purposes of subunits may not align with the overall system purpose]]) 2. Too much central control > To be a highly functional system, hierarchy must balance the welfare, freedoms, and responsibilities of the subsystems and total system--there must be enough central control to achieve coordination toward the large system goal, and enough autonomy to keep all subsystems flourishing, functioning, and self-organizing.