title: Reflections on the starfish and the spider.
abstract: Organizations have varied configurations-top down, bottom up, matrixed, or flattened. This column explores the organizational structures described as resembling either a starfish or a spider in relation to the Professional Nurse Educators Group (PNEG), continuing education providers, and, most especially, the annual PNEG conference. The characteristics of effective catalysts within decentralized organizations are included.
authors.forename: Lynore D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: DeSilets
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008954:Models, Biological; D017146:Models, Organizational; D013112:Spiders; D013215:Starfish