Each organization has a functional relationship to the family it belongs to. These relationships are classified as follows:
- Organizational – A formalized grouping of organizations.
- Contractual – Organizations that manage or are managed by other organizations via contract or other agreement. For example, an organization funded by NCI to manage a consortium has a contractual relationship.
- Affiliation – Organizations that share common working agreements or business relationships. For example, an independent hospital or clinic working with a university or institution is an affiliate of the university or institution.
Additionally, each organization in a family has a hierarchical relationship to the other members of the family (as applicable). The hierarchical relationships are as follows:
- Parent – Organization at a top or higher level within an organizational family. A parent can have one or more child organizations.
- Child – Organization at the bottom or lower level within an organizational family.
- Peer – Organization on an equal standing with another organization within an organizational family.
- Division – Major functional or administrative grouping within an organization.
- Subdivision – Minor functional group within a division.
- Department – A particular group within an organization.
- Sub-department – Minor group within a department.
