His management style was not very rigid or hierarchical; as long as someone got his or her job done, almost anything went. (“Nolan Bushnell”)
poorly led
based on pay
determined by personality
arranged by rank
Based on the context provided, the bold word "hierarchical" refers to something that is arranged by rank. In this sentence, it suggests that the management style is not strict or organized in a top-down manner where decisions and instructions flow through a clear chain of command. Instead, it implies that as long as employees perform their job effectively, there is flexibility and openness in how they go about achieving their goals, without strict adherence to a hierarchical structure. To determine the meaning of a word in a given context, it is essential to analyze the surrounding words, phrases, and the overall message conveyed by the sentence.
