Summarizing the Design Guidelines

The table summarizes various design strategies for hierarchical design and the characteristics of each.

Strategy Characteristics

By Location Resists company reorganizations.
Accommodates mergers and expansions.
Takes advantage of network strengths.
Requires administrators at each location.
Compromises on some security issues.

By Organization Reflects the business model.
Maintains departmental or divisional autonomy.
Accommodates mergers and expansions.
May impact replication.
Vulnerable to reorganization.

By Function Used with small organizations only.
Immune to reorganizations.
May require additional layers.
May impact replication.

By Location then Organization Allows for additional geographic or departmental growth.
Allows for distinct security boundaries.

By Location then Organization Requires a new design if the IT organization were to become decentralized.
Requires cooperation among IT administrators if they are in the same location but in different departments.

By Organization then Location Allows for strong security between departments or divisions.
Allows administrative delegation based on location.
Vulnerable to reorganization.

Strategy	Characteristics
By Location	Resists company reorganizations. Accommodates mergers and expansions. Takes advantage of network strengths. Requires administrators at each location. Compromises on some security issues.
By Organization	Reflects the business model. Maintains departmental or divisional autonomy. Accommodates mergers and expansions. May impact replication. Vulnerable to reorganization.
By Function	Used with small organizations only. Immune to reorganizations. May require additional layers. May impact replication.
By Location then Organization	Allows for additional geographic or departmental growth. Allows for distinct security boundaries.
By Location then Organization	Requires a new design if the IT organization were to become decentralized. Requires cooperation among IT administrators if they are in the same location but in different departments.
By Organization then Location	Allows for strong security between departments or divisions. Allows administrative delegation based on location. Vulnerable to reorganization.