It is the official authority 'traditionally' associated with management, which goes down the scalar chain.

Information flow does not have to be restricted to passing up and down the scalar chain, but authority should.

The line of authority from top management to the lowest ranks represents the scalar chain.

A scalar chain or line of authority, both vertically and horizontally.

Friction may also occur when staff managers report to a higher authority in the scalar chain of command.

Authority is delegated through a hierarchical, formal scalar chain.

Scalar Chain (line of authority with peer level communication)

If problems do not have to be referred up a scalar chain of command to senior managers for a decision, decision-making will be quicker.

It appears natural, that no organization can afford to maintain a control structure of a dimension being required for implementing a scalar chain under the unity of command condition.

Classical theorists such as Fayol therefore argued that the scalar chain of command must be clearly specified in terms of who holds what authority and who is accountable to whom and for what.

A disagreement between D and E could be referred to B; whereas a disagreement between D and F would need to be settled either by B and C together (using their pooled authority) or by appealing up the scalar chain to A.