Final answer:
A flat organization is one with few or no levels of middle management between top managers and those reporting to them, which matches the current trends of less hierarchical workplace structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
An organization is defined as flat when it has an organizational structure with few or no levels of middle management between top managers and those reporting to them. In fact, in recent years, there has been a shift away from traditional hierarchy and moved towards teamwork, making flat organizational structures more common. It's becoming increasingly usual for directors to solicit feedback from an entry-level employee, promoting collegial relationships among managers and co-workers. Therefore, the correct answer is D) flat.
Bureaucracies possess a hierarchical framework, where authority in these organizations is usually more vertical and structured compared to flat organizations. Max Weber, a pioneer sociologist, characterized a bureaucracy as having a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality. This description is indicative of many modern formal organizations, which are or tend to be highly bureaucratized, from schools to businesses to governments.