Line organization is a business or industry structure with self-contained departments. Authority travels downwards from top and accountability upwards from bottom along the chain of command, and each department manager has control over his or her department's affairs and employees. Line organization is self-contained with departments defining the business or industry structure. Each department manager retains control over department’s affairs and employees. Accountability goes upwards from the bottom along the chain of command, while authority travels downwards from the top, similar to a pyramid.