Ten Organization Link Types
Type A links represent reporting structure
• A1* is the direct, solid-line, mutually-exclusive paycheck manager reporting link that every node has except the root
• A2 is a matrix, dotted-line, alternative whole/part, co-manager reporting link
Type B links represent process flows
• B1 is the primary, solid-line, upstream-to-downstream process flow
• B2 is a feedback, dotted-line, downstream-to-upstream process flow
Type C links represent membership structure
• C1 is a solid-line membership link from a group (leader) to a member
 C2 is a dotted-line participant link, representing a weaker, more passive, membership
Type D links represent information flows
• D1 is the primary, solid-line, channel or initiating communication from sender-to-receiver
• D2 is a secondary, dotted-line, channel or reply in a sender-receiver interaction volley, or other alternative representation
Type E links represent personal ties
• E1 is a stronger, relevant, solid-line, 1-degree tie
• E2 is a weaker, dotted-line, less influential tie
The taxonomy of organization link types give us 5x2 separate directed links to use to connect any two nodes of a network. At least one link must connect each node from the root, but many other links may be drawn to represent increasingly more complex working relationships. These link types, although they function independently, are inherently cumulative in their application.
* Every node has one and only one “main parent” whole/part holon link embedded in its definition. We typically code it “A1,” but it can be any link type so long as it follows the “one-node-one-link rule”