Especially prevalent within the science fiction cyberpunk genre acting as aggressive and often amoral conglomerations, corporations can play large roles in any world. They can fund expeditions to unknown locations, can oversee the creation of new technologies, or can act (as in the case of Bruce Wayne) as both a source of income and a mask for his alternate lifestyle as the Batman.

ORGANIZATIONAL HIERARCHY

• Stockholders: a group of individual investors or investment firms that own stock in the company
• Board of Directors: a group of individuals (‘directors’) selected by the stockholders to oversee the activities of the organization.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Oversees all aspects of the business. Commonly thought of as the head boss, though answers to the Board of Directors.
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Oversees finances
• Chief Marketing Officer (CMO): Oversees sales and marketing
• Chief Product Officer (CPO): Oversees product development and production
• Chief Operational Officer (COO): Oversees administrational duties and human resources
• Chief Legal Officer (CLO): Oversees legal and compliance related aspects
• Chief Accounting Officer (CAO): Oversees the accounting department
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Oversees technological issues
• Chief Information Officer (CIO): Oversees information/data issues
• Chief Science Officer (CSO): Oversees scientific matters
• Chief Security Officer (CSO): Oversees security personnel and location safety
• Chief Medical Officer (CMO): Oversees the health and care of employees and/or customers
• Chief Engineering Officer (CEngO): Oversees engineering matters
• Chief Brand Officer (CBO): Oversees the company’s ‘brand’ and public appearance
• Chief Academic Officer (CAO): Oversees any academic-related matters

Not all organizations will have each of these positions. For example, some will have a CFO and not a CAO and accounting matters will fall under the purview of the CFO. In addition, naming conventions may differ between organizations, such as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) instead being known as a Chief Information Officer (CIO). If it is a privately-owned company, no stock shares are available for purchase on the market, and therefore there will be no shareholders and often no board of directors for the CEO to answer to.

The CEO and chief officers of all departments are collectively referred to as the ‘C-Suite.’

What are the largest corporations that exist in your world and what business are they in?

Often within a corporation there can be interdepartmental friction or open hostility. In your corporation is this the case?