What I instinctively interpreted that as is "branching factor". i.e. the number of subjects at each management node.
Tall companies have many middle managers (middlemen) but small teams with no slack. Flat companies have large groups and infrequent interaction with leads or managers. Perhaps more slack, perhaps more ambiguity and less direction. Both can be unhealthy.
Tall companies have many middle managers (middlemen) but small teams with no slack. Flat companies have large groups and infrequent interaction with leads or managers. Perhaps more slack, perhaps more ambiguity and less direction. Both can be unhealthy.