silo

(noun)

In business, a unit or department within which communication and collaboration occurs vertically, with limited cooperation outside the unit.

Related Terms

Examples of silo in the following topics:

  • Functional Structure

    • Some refer to these functional areas as "silos"—entities that are vertical and disconnected from each other.
    • Smaller companies that require more adaptability and creativity may feel confined by the communicative and creative silos functional structures tend to produce.

  • Matrix Structure

    • Proponents of matrix management suggest that this structure allows team members to share information more readily across task boundaries, countering the "silo" critique of functional management.

  • Network Structure

    • Communication is less siloed and flows freely, possibly opening up more opportunities for innovation.