Question

Explain organizational authority and the purpose of the chain of command. In your opinion should an employee ever go over the head of their boss? For example, if they had a problem and felt their boss could not or would not help - should they speak to their boss's boss? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Organizational authority has a purpose of maintaining a discipline in an organization by helping staff in knowing who can deliver task to them and whom they can deliver the work. Various type of organizational authorities exists like:
1) Line authority
2) Staff authority
3) Functional authority

The main purpose of chain of command is helping in establishing organization hierarchy. CEO->VPs-> and so on...This hierarchy may differ from company to company but its sheer importance lies in the fact that it helps in proper flow of information in the organization removing multiple commands for one job.

This hierarchy should not be skipped and any issues should be escalated through your immediate boss rather than reaching out to your boss's boss. This hierarchy has a purpose and every immediate superior is assigned with particular set of authority where he/she can solve the issue, if not they can escalate this issue to their superior. This maintains the decorum and discipline at the workplace and cordial relationships can be maintained through this.

If you need more information, do let me know so that we can discuss :)