Which company's corporate culture uses a 'lattice' organizational structure with no formal hierarchy?

W. L. Gore & Associates uses a lattice organizational structure with no formal hierarchy.

Co-founder Bill Gore developed the idea after observing how small, multidisciplinary teams worked at DuPont. He introduced the lattice concept to Gore associates in 1967 and later described it in a 1976 paper, “The Lattice Organization – A Philosophy of Enterprise.”

Gore associates generally share the same title, communicate directly, and organize around projects or opportunities rather than fixed departments. Leaders can emerge because colleagues choose to follow them, rather than because a conventional manager assigns authority. Peer-based contribution reviews are another part of the model.

The structure is not the same as having no accountability or coordination. Gore’s culture includes principles called freedom, fairness, commitment, and “waterline”: decisions that could seriously affect the company require consultation. The company now often describes the lattice principle as open allocation, a system in which associates can move toward work where their skills and interests are most useful.