Final answer:
High-level units in an agency's hierarchy are those with decision-making power and oversight responsibilities, ensuring the fulfillment of strategic organizational goals. Agile adaptation to the information age may lead to changes in structural rigidity, yet the foundational chain of command remains essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
In an agency's hierarchy of authority, units that should be placed high in the structure are those with decision-making power and oversight responsibilities. These units typically oversee lower-level operations, ensuring that the strategic goals of the organization are met, and compliance with policies is maintained. In a traditional hierarchy, authority flows from top to bottom, and those at the higher levels are responsible for making executive decisions, similar to how a CEO oversees a company with input from the board of directors.
Within the federal government, for example, organizations such as NASA, which ranked highly in job satisfaction, or a department that is central to an agency's function, like the Department of Commerce or an intelligence community, would have units positioned high in the agency's hierarchy. Their high placement within the bureaucratic structure allows them to address scalability, increase efficiency, ensure equal opportunities, and service a broad base of stakeholders effectively. Given the dynamic nature of the modern information age, the rigidity of these structures may be adapting, but the foundation of hierarchy remains critical in maintaining the chain of command and facilitating organized operations.