holacracy

[hɑːˈlækrəsi]
nounpl: holacracies
holacracia
1. A management system and organizational structure based on distributed authority and self-organization, where power is distributed throughout the organization in self-managed teams or 'circles' rather than concentrated in a traditional hierarchical chain of command
The company adopted holacracy to empower employees and increase organizational agility.
A empresa adotou holacracia para capacitar os funcionários e aumentar a agilidade organizacional.
2. A governance model in which individuals and teams have autonomy to make decisions within their domain without requiring approval from a centralized management layer
Under holacracy, each circle manages its own budget and processes.
Sob holacracia, cada círculo gerencia seu próprio orçamento e processos.
Holacracy gained significant prominence in tech and startup cultures, particularly in the United States and Brazil. Companies like Zappos and Buffer have experimented with this model. In Brazil, it remains more popular in São Paulo's tech ecosystem than in traditional business sectors. The concept appeals to younger, innovation-focused organizations seeking alternatives to rigid hierarchical structures, though implementation can be challenging and requires significant cultural shift.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
self-managementdistributed authoritycircle-based organizationflat organizationself-governance
Antonyms / Antônimos
hierarchyautocracycentralized managementbureaucracyauthoritarianism

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
holacracia
Standard translation used in organizational and business contexts
São Paulo
holacracia
Commonly used in tech startups and innovative companies in the region
Rio de Janeiro
holacracia
Less commonly used than in São Paulo; traditional hierarchies still dominant
Portugal
holacracia
Term used in contemporary organizational discussions; gaining traction in tech sectors

Related Words

circleself-organizationdistributed decision-makingorganizational structuregovernanceempowermentaccountability

Related Idioms & Phrases

distributed authority model
circle-based governance
self-managed teams
bottom-up decision-making
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