Social:Grandfather principle

The grandfather principle is related to the control and order within hierarchical organisations.

Decisions making

Examples of the principle's use in decision making:

• A major decision has to be approved by the manager's manager (the "grandparent").
• To guarantee fair and objective remuneration, all decisions concerning personal compensation and benefits made by a manager are also approved by the manager's manager.

Responsibility/authorisation

Examples of the principle's use related to responsibility and authorisation:

• A case of uncertainty about personal responsibility or authorisation should be cleared by the immediate manager in conjunction with the manager's manager.

Flaws/corruption

Examples of the principle's use to limit organisational corruption:

• An individual who identifies corruptive order within the organization hierarchical structure related to his/hers own manager is advised to contact the manager's manager concerning the matter.
• An individual who identifies corruptive order within the organization hierarchical structure can bring up the matter before a manager at ANY hierarchical level within the organization. The "ANY" is related to where the corruptive part is located hierarchically and the immediate manager above that level, is the preferred manager to be addressed. The manager, acting Grandfather of the organization as entity, should treat the individual, acting Father and guard of the organization as entity, with a mutual respect related to the authority of the hierarchical level addressed, the importance of the subject being addressed and the courage undertaken to surface the subject in matter.