a formal structure, usually represented by a diagram of connected nodes, without any single permanent uppermost node
Compare hierarchy (sense 5), tree (sense 6)
Word origin
from Greek heteros other, different + archē sovereignty
Examples of 'heterarchy' in a sentence
heterarchy
This study specifically examines the definitions throughout an observational heterarchy model based on internal measurement.
Kohei eSonoda, Kentaro eKodama, Yukio Pegio Gunji 2013, 'Awareness as observational heterarchy', Frontiers in Psychologyhttp://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00686/full. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
The heterarchy combines both elements of hierarchy and elements of the market relations.
Shikul'skaya Ol'ga Mikhaylovna, Anufriev Dmitry Petrovich 2018, 'STRUCTURALLY-FUNCTIONAL AND SET-THEORETIC MODELS OF THE REGIONAL CONSTRUCTION CLUSTERAS A HETERARCHICAL SYSTEM', Vestnik MGSUhttp://vestnikmgsu.ru/index.php/archive/article/download/4141. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)
Recently however, alternate models of complexity have been developed for tribal societies following heterarchy and corporate mode of complexity.
Bulent Arikan 2011, 'Cooperation and Competition: The Comparative Assessment of Tribal Dynamics in theMarginal Landscapes of the Wadi el-Hasa, in west-central Jordan in the Early Bronzeand Iron ages', Traces in Timehttp://www.archaeologicaltraces.org/index.php/2014-01-28-09-56-01/traces-in-time/29-tit-1-2011/35-tit0004. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)