Writing programs using a program hierarchy is always a good idea in computer programming because it makes writing a program much easier. Programs that are written in a clean, organized hierarchy are easier to read. It also makes modifying the program a lot easier. Using a hierarchy also makes extending the code much easier. The definition of a hierarchy is organized into orders or ranks each subordinate to the one above it. (webster’s dictionary) So in the same way it can be applied to computer programming by grouping things into different levels. There is a top level and then in breaks down into other lower levels. At each level a different concept is given with enough detail that one would have a general idea of what the next level is going to be describing. What makes using a hierarchy so convenient is that one can work on any of the levels without needing to know what is in the other levels of the program. It is not necessary to know what each command does, so long as it is done. Hierarchy’s allow programmers to create harder and harder structures and then stack them on top of each other. So in other words if a program is made to create a house, and it is created using a hierarchy, the flow might look like this: draw house, draw front, draw roof, draw door, and draw window. If you wanted to create a different set of house all you would need to door is change the inputs of drawhouse as opposed to changing the other procedures.
The way that I see a program hierarchy applying to real life would be like a management hierarchy at any job. At the top of the hierarchy there would be a chairmen or CEO, then maybe a CFO, vice president, regional manager, general manager, assistant manager, shift manager, and then whatever entry level position. If you wanted to change the way a lower level of the hierarchy is managed you would just change the manager above that level. It would not be necessary to fire the CEO, or CFO if the entry level employees need to be managed in a different way. Another way it can be applied to life would be in a social hierarchy. It is easy to see an example of a social hierarchy by examining the social hierarchy of India. India’s social hierarchy is based upon the belief in reincarnation. At the top of the hierarchy you have whats called nirvana. And at the very bottom there would slaves/peasants. Depending on how well of a life you lived previously determines what level you will be at in the next life. Kinda in reverse order, in the sense that if you are at the bottom of the hierarchy you want to be at the top, so you would change the way you live your life at the lower level in order to move on to the higher levels of the hierarchy, or pyramid. It is better to think of the hierarchy in the business sense and not the Indian Society way.
