What are the benefits and drawbacks of using a flat organizational structure in a company?
A flat organizational structure is an organizational model with few or no levels of middle management between the executives and the staff level employees. It is designed to promote employee involvement, faster communication, and less bureaucracy. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as:

It may lead to higher turnover, as employees may see no way to advance their careers or get more responsibility and benefits.
It may create confusion about the chain of command, as employees may not know who to report to or who has the authority to make decisions.
It may be less effective as the business grows, as it becomes harder to coordinate and supervise a large number of employees without middle managers.
It may require more dominance and supervision from the top executives, as they have to handle more tasks and issues that would normally be delegated to middle managers.

Therefore, a flat organizational structure has its advantages and disadvantages, and it may not suit every type of business or organization. It depends on factors such as the size, culture, goals, and nature of the business or organization.
Is there an optimal number of people where a flat organizational structure works well? If not, are there any studies attempting to answer this question?