The hottest Corporate Structure Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Quick Essay: A Short History of OpenAI

Chamath Palihapitiya • 5758 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Artificial Intelligence Corporate Structure History
  1. OpenAI transitioned from a non-profit to a 'capped-profit' model in 2019, allowing for capital raises while serving its mission
  2. OpenAI made significant advancements in AI research, developing projects like 'OpenAI Five' and models like ChatGPT and GPT-3
  3. Conflict within OpenAI's leadership led to the removal of co-founder Sam Altman as CEO due to concerns over commercialization conflicting with the company's primary goal of developing AGI safely

Why are corporations cutting managers?

In My Tribe • 698 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
💼 Business Management Corporate Structure Organizational Behavior Employment Trends
  1. Many companies are reducing their number of middle managers to trim costs and cut bureaucracy. This means fewer people are overseeing employees, which can simplify decision-making.
  2. Firms are focusing on their core business and letting go of complex managerial structures that don’t add immediate value. They might be cutting back on certain initiatives to streamline operations.
  3. Cost-cutting has become a priority for many senior executives, especially when revenue growth slows. This focus on reducing expenses can lead to a significant reshaping of company structures.

Inequality is overwhelmingly between firms, not within

Something to Consider • 99 implied HN points • 13 Jul 24
💰 Finance Income Inequality Corporate Structure Economic Theory Labor Market Public Policy
  1. Income inequality is mainly based on differences between companies, not just between workers in the same company. Some companies pay their workers a lot more than others, and that's a big part of why inequality has grown.
  2. About 40% of this inequality comes from workers choosing to work at different firms. The other 20% is because some firms are simply more productive or profitable than others.
  3. We should focus more on how many highly skilled workers are earning a lot overall, rather than just looking at top executives. More people than ever have high incomes, showing that there's great potential for those who can add value in the economy.

TBM 318: Why Orgs Become Too Tall

The Beautiful Mess • 449 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
💼 Business Management Organizational Behavior Leadership Corporate Structure Business strategy
  1. Organizations can become too tall when they grow too big, leading to excessive layers of management. This often happens when companies cannot adjust their team sizes effectively as they deal with market challenges.
  2. Narrow spans of control make it hard for managers to handle large teams, resulting in more layers. This could be due to inexperienced managers needing more guidance or a culture that prefers smaller teams.
  3. A lack of trust and delegation can make organizations taller. When managers feel they need to oversee everything, it creates more layers instead of empowering teams to work independently.
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Replicating Buffett

Net Interest • 13 implied HN points • 17 Jan 25
💼 Business Investing Corporate Structure Market Analysis Financial Services Entrepreneurship
  1. Warren Buffett took control of a struggling company, Berkshire Hathaway, after realizing its potential value despite its problems. He initially bought shares to gain influence.
  2. Buffett's experience with Berkshire taught him important lessons about organizational structure and the value of permanent capital for investments.
  3. Now, investors like Bill Ackman are trying to create companies similar to Berkshire Hathaway, but it's hard to replicate its successful model because it takes time and patience.

Spotify Technology Career Steps

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 19 implied HN points • 25 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Career development Work Culture Human Resources Professional Growth Corporate Structure
  1. At Spotify, career growth is flexible and based on your interests. You can explore different roles and skills without being stuck on a strict path.
  2. Career steps at Spotify focus on teamwork and impact. Employees are encouraged to prioritize team success and think about how their work affects the business.
  3. Promotions at Spotify depend on consistently showing a higher level of impact and behavior. They aren't tied to a specific timeline, so discussions with managers are key.

The OpenAI corporate revamp seems pretty reasonable

Alex's Personal Blog • 32 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
💼 Business Corporate Structure Tech industry Business strategy
  1. OpenAI is changing its company structure to better fit its needs for raising and making money. They are moving to a type of corporation that requires them to think about more than just profits.
  2. The new structure will allow OpenAI to balance its mission with the interests of shareholders. This means they must consider how their decisions affect everyone, not just those who own stock.
  3. Although the changes could face challenges, like legal issues with competitors, OpenAI seems focused on preparing itself for future success.

Bullshit jobs

Logos • 39 implied HN points • 09 May 24
💼 Business Work Culture Economic Theory Corporate Structure Employee Satisfaction
  1. Bullshit jobs are roles that seem pointless or don't add real value to society. People often feel their job is useless because they don't see how it benefits others or the economy.
  2. Many jobs that seem pointless actually exist because of unnecessary processes or rules. For example, lawyers might just deal with silly lawsuits instead of making real progress.
  3. Some jobs can be damaging because they make workers feel unproductive and trapped. It's important to find jobs that give a sense of purpose and real impact.

Contra product management shibboleths

Logos • 19 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
💼 Business Product Management Corporate Structure Career development Financial Management
  1. Being too focused on data and customer research can limit creativity. It's important to use good judgment to come up with ideas and then use data to check if those ideas make sense.
  2. The rise of Chief Product Officers may not mean there's new work being done. Sometimes it's just a title change or a marketing strategy to make companies seem more innovative.
  3. Job titles do matter because they often come with recognition and better pay. People want their efforts acknowledged, and titles can help convey that value.

The Tax Dance: To Pass Through or Not to Pass Through Income?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 14
💰 Finance Taxation Corporate Structure Investment strategy Business valuation Market Trends
  1. Pass-through entities like REITs and MLPs are popular because they avoid double taxation on income. This means the company pays taxes only at the investor level, not at the corporate level as well.
  2. Choosing between pass-through and corporate structures affects a company's growth and investment choices. Pass-throughs often have restrictions on investments and must distribute most earnings as dividends, which can limit expansion.
  3. When valuing businesses, it's important to consider the tax situation of the investors and the growth potential. A pass-through might not always be more valuable than a corporate structure if the tax benefits don't outweigh the growth limitations.