TY - JOUR
T1 - Bending granite revisited
T2 - The command rank structure of American police organizations
AU - King, William R.
PY - 2003
Y1 - 2003
N2 - For 30 years, critics have noted a number of ailments caused by police rank structure. This paper adds to this literature by exploring the command rank structure of American police organizations in four parts. First, police rank structure is defined. Second, the hypothesized problems and benefits of tall rank structures are culled from the prior literature and described. A review of these contentions finds little reason to believe that tall rank structures are either beneficial or detrimental. Third, a systematic review of empirical studies of a range of organizations reveals that the impact of rank structure on three classes of organizational attributes is not wholly clear. This article closes with suggestions for conducting research to better ascertain the impact of hierarchy on police agencies, and how police executives can apply this knowledge.
AB - For 30 years, critics have noted a number of ailments caused by police rank structure. This paper adds to this literature by exploring the command rank structure of American police organizations in four parts. First, police rank structure is defined. Second, the hypothesized problems and benefits of tall rank structures are culled from the prior literature and described. A review of these contentions finds little reason to believe that tall rank structures are either beneficial or detrimental. Third, a systematic review of empirical studies of a range of organizations reveals that the impact of rank structure on three classes of organizational attributes is not wholly clear. This article closes with suggestions for conducting research to better ascertain the impact of hierarchy on police agencies, and how police executives can apply this knowledge.
KW - Hierarchy
KW - Organizational structure
KW - Police
KW - USA
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0346902061&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/13639510310475732
DO - 10.1108/13639510310475732
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:0346902061
SN - 1363-951X
VL - 26
SP - 208
EP - 230
JO - Policing: An International Journal
JF - Policing: An International Journal
IS - 2
ER -