Government organizations follow specific reporting structures that affect how design decisions get made. Understanding these hierarchies helps navigate design projects effectively through various approval levels.

Key organizational elements include:

• Decision makers: Senior executives and elected officials who make final approvals on initiatives and budgets
• Policy teams: Groups that create and interpret rules, ensuring projects meet government requirements
• Operations and front-line staff: Teams that handle day-to-day service delivery and interact with citizens
• Support units: Technical, legal, and administrative teams that enable project implementation

Different departments may have varying structures, but they typically share common patterns in how they handle project decisions and resource allocation. Understanding these patterns helps predict project timelines and requirements.