I am reminded of the video game company Valve. Famously without official hierarchies... but not according to former employees. The difference is with formal h

I am reminded of the video game company Valve. Famously without official hierarchies... but not according to former employees. The difference is with formal hierarchies there is also formal authority and responsibilities. A lack of explicit expectations means that informal the leadership can shirk responsibility or invent authority. And that's a software company; a military org that's ordering people into dangerous situations is going to have a much harder time without explicit authority; POUM in the Spanish Civil War comes to mind.