The past several decades have seen the collapse of the corporate ladder, according to an article in The Guardian, a London-based newspaper. By one estimate, companies have flattened out by about 25% in the past 25 years, eliminating layers of management. Increasingly, employees, especially in smaller firms, have more freedom to pitch ideas to senior executives without going through hierarchical layers of management
Many career paths are now following a zigzag rather than a straight path, according to the article. Employees can find growth by assuming different roles, acquiring new experiences, new skills, and new networks -- a portfolio of transferable skills.