# Hierarchy relation taxonomy Every account in your CRM sits somewhere in a corporate tree. The **Hierarchy Relation** field tells you where. It's a single label, picked from eight positions, that reps can sort on, route with, and roll up against. The taxonomy works the same way across Company, Government, and Education trees. You don't need to learn a separate model for each. ## Hierarchy positions Every account gets exactly one label. When more than one could apply, the highest priority wins. | Priority | Label | Company tree | Government tree | Education tree | | -------- | ----------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1 | **GUP** · Global Ultimate Parent | Topmost HoldCo or Operating entity | National Government, IGO | Education System, standalone HEI | | 2 | **GOP** · Global Operating Parent | Topmost Operating entity (when GUP is HoldCo) | - | - | | 3 | **DUP** · Domestic Ultimate Parent | Highest entity in its country | National Government below an IGO | - | | 4 | **DOP** · Domestic Operating Parent | Highest Operating entity in its country | - | - | | 5 | **Subsidiary** | Operating subsidiary | Agency, Subnational, Local, Judiciary | Higher-Ed Institution, Pre-tertiary school, Research Institute | | 6 | **Business Unit** | Brand or division inside an Operating entity | - | Academic Unit | | 7 | **Establishment** | Branch, office, or site | - | - | | 8 | **Standalone** | Independent company | Independent agency | Independent institution | {% hint style="info" %} **Government and Education don't split Operating vs HoldCo.** That distinction only exists for companies, so `GOP` and `DOP` are skipped for those trees. The classifier jumps straight from `GUP` to `DUP` to `Subsidiary`. {% endhint %} ## Precedence rules * Highest priority label wins. An account that qualifies for both `GUP` and `GOP` gets `GUP`. * `GUP` is always the topmost entity in the tree, even when that entity is Operating (in which case `GOP` doesn't fire). * `GOP` only exists when the `GUP` is a HoldCo and the tree is a company tree. * `DUP` only appears when the highest entity in its country differs from the `GUP` or `GOP`. * `DOP` only exists when the `DUP` is a HoldCo and the tree is a company tree. * For Government and Education, the classifier skips `GOP` and `DOP` entirely. * Ties are broken deterministically so the same tree always produces the same labels. ## How classification works For every account, Kernel walks down this checklist and stops at the first match. 1. Is this the top of the tree? If yes, it's the **GUP**. 2. Is this an Operating company sitting below a HoldCo `GUP`? **GOP**. 3. Is this the highest account in its country, and that country is different from the `GUP`'s country? **DUP**. 4. Is this an Operating company sitting below a HoldCo `DUP`? **DOP**. 5. Is this a physical site (branch, office, plant)? **Establishment**. 6. Is this a brand or academic unit that isn't a legal entity? **Business Unit**. 7. Otherwise, **Subsidiary**. If the account has no parent in the tree at all, it's a **Standalone**. ## Edge cases | Case | What happens | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | | No parent account anywhere in the tree | Labelled `Standalone` | | The account is the top of its own tree | Immediate `GUP`, no further walk needed | | No country on the account | Can't be `DUP` or `DOP`, falls through to `Subsidiary` | | Two accounts tied for "highest in country" | Deterministic tiebreak, same result every run | | A Government or Education account is tagged HoldCo or Operating | Treated as Operating equivalent, `GOP` and `DOP` still skipped | | Sub-category we don't recognise | Defaults to `Subsidiary` | ## Examples Each node shows the entity's **sub-category** and **country**, then the label the classifier assigns. Shading by position: darker sage for the `GUP`, lighter sage for other parent positions, white for leaf positions. ### PE-backed insurance group The canonical complex case. Every commercial position fires somewhere in this tree. ```mermaid flowchart TD PS["Pollen Street Capital
HoldCo · GB
GUP"]:::gup MG["Markerstudy Group
Operating · GB
GOP"]:::gop MIS["Markerstudy Insurance Svcs
Operating · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf MDE["Markerstudy Deutschland
HoldCo · DE
DUP"]:::dup MDO["Markerstudy DE Operations
Operating · DE
DOP"]:::dop MBE["Markerstudy Berlin
Establishment · DE
Establishment"]:::leaf MMU["Markerstudy Munich
Establishment · DE
Establishment"]:::leaf MES["Markerstudy Spain
Operating · ES
DUP"]:::dup PS --> MG MG --> MIS MG --> MDE MG --> MES MDE --> MDO MDE --> MMU MDO --> MBE classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef gop fill:#d5e2d6,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef dup fill:#e2ede3,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef dop fill:#f0f6f1,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` Markerstudy Insurance Services is a `Subsidiary`, not a `DUP`, because the `GOP` is already in GB. `DUP` requires a different country from the `GUP` or `GOP`. Markerstudy Spain has a single Operating entity in its country, so it takes `DUP` (priority 3) ahead of `DOP` (priority 4). ### Swiss multinational with Operating at the top When the topmost entity is already Operating, `GUP` and `GOP` collapse into one. ```mermaid flowchart TD N["Nestlé S.A.
Operating · CH
GUP"]:::gup NUK["Nestlé UK
Operating · GB
DUP"]:::dup NPU["Nestlé Purina UK
Operating · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf NHS["Nestlé Health Science
Operating · CH
Subsidiary"]:::leaf NES["Nespresso
Operating · CH
Subsidiary"]:::leaf N --> NUK N --> NHS N --> NES NUK --> NPU classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef dup fill:#e2ede3,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` `GOP` doesn't fire because the `GUP` is already Operating. Swiss children fall to `Subsidiary` because they share a country with the `GUP`. ### Global bank with HoldCo and cross-border operations Every commercial position in one tree. ```mermaid flowchart TD HH["HSBC Holdings
HoldCo · GB
GUP"]:::gup HB["HSBC Bank plc
Operating · GB
GOP"]:::gop HUK["HSBC UK Bank
Operating · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf HUS["HSBC USA Inc.
HoldCo · US
DUP"]:::dup HBUS["HSBC Bank USA, N.A.
Operating · US
DOP"]:::dop HHK["HSBC Hong Kong Branch
Establishment · HK
Establishment"]:::leaf HH --> HB HB --> HUK HB --> HUS HB --> HHK HUS --> HBUS classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef gop fill:#d5e2d6,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef dup fill:#e2ede3,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef dop fill:#f0f6f1,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` ### Brand inside an operating company Business Units aren't legal entities. They contract through a parent. ```mermaid flowchart TD KH["Kraft Heinz
Operating · US
GUP"]:::gup KUK["Kraft Heinz UK
Operating · GB
DUP"]:::dup JO["Jell-O
Business unit · US
Business Unit"]:::leaf KH --> KUK KH --> JO classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef dup fill:#e2ede3,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` Jell-O is a brand, not a separate company. It takes the `Business Unit` position. ### US Federal Government Multi-level government tree. Everything below the `GUP` is flat. ```mermaid flowchart TD USG["United States Government
National Government · US
GUP"]:::gup HHS["HHS
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf FDA["FDA
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf CDC["CDC
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf NIH["NIH
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf DOD["Department of Defense
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf ARMY["US Army
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf DARPA["DARPA
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf FED["Federal Reserve
Agency · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf USG --> HHS USG --> DOD USG --> FED HHS --> FDA HHS --> CDC HHS --> NIH DOD --> ARMY DOD --> DARPA classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` {% hint style="info" %} **Government trees are flat below the `GUP`.** Every descendant resolves to `Subsidiary`. To tell FDA apart from HHS from USG, walk the parent relationship rather than relying on the label alone. {% endhint %} ### EU, member state, subnational, local `DUP` can fire for a government tree when an IGO sits on top. ```mermaid flowchart TD EU["European Union
IGO · no country
GUP"]:::gup FR["République française
National Government · FR
DUP"]:::dup MIN["Ministère de l'Économie
Agency · FR
Subsidiary"]:::leaf IDF["Région Île-de-France
Subnational · FR
Subsidiary"]:::leaf PAR["Ville de Paris
Local Government · FR
Subsidiary"]:::leaf EU --> FR FR --> MIN FR --> IDF IDF --> PAR classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef dup fill:#e2ede3,stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` The EU has no single country, so it's the `GUP` by default. France is the highest entity in FR, and FR is different from the `GUP`'s country, so France takes `DUP`. ### UK Government with devolved administrations ```mermaid flowchart TD UKG["UK Government
National Government · GB
GUP"]:::gup HMT["HM Treasury
Agency · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf DFE["Department for Education
Agency · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf OFS["Ofsted
Agency · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf SCOT["Scottish Government
Subnational · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf SE["Scottish Enterprise
Agency · GB
Subsidiary"]:::leaf UKG --> HMT UKG --> DFE UKG --> SCOT DFE --> OFS SCOT --> SE classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` Scottish Government is subnational, but country is recorded at the sovereign level (GB), so `DUP` doesn't fire. Same for Welsh and NI governments. ### University of California System Education tree where `Business Unit` fires via Academic Unit. ```mermaid flowchart TD UC["University of California System
Education System · US
GUP"]:::gup UCB["UC Berkeley
Higher-Ed Institution · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf HAAS["Haas School of Business
Academic Unit · US
Business Unit"]:::leaf ENG["College of Engineering
Academic Unit · US
Business Unit"]:::leaf LBL["Lawrence Berkeley Lab
Research Institute · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf UCLA["UCLA
Higher-Ed Institution · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf AND["Anderson School of Management
Academic Unit · US
Business Unit"]:::leaf UCSF["UC San Francisco
Higher-Ed Institution · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf UC --> UCB UC --> UCLA UC --> UCSF UCB --> HAAS UCB --> ENG UCB --> LBL UCLA --> AND classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` ### K-12 district ```mermaid flowchart TD LAU["LA Unified School District
Education System · US
GUP"]:::gup LH["Lincoln High
Pre-tertiary · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf RH["Roosevelt High
Pre-tertiary · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf GH["Garfield High
Pre-tertiary · US
Subsidiary"]:::leaf LAU --> LH LAU --> RH LAU --> GH classDef gup fill:#b5c4b6,stroke:#343539,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#343539 classDef leaf fill:#ffffff,stroke:#c8d5c9,stroke-width:1px,color:#343539 linkStyle default stroke:#98a59c,stroke-width:1.5px ``` ### Standalones An account with no parent and no children is a `Standalone`. | Account | Classification | Why | | --------------------------------------------------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Shopify Inc.** (Operating · CA) | Standalone | No parent, tree of one | | **Harvard University** (Higher-Ed Institution · US) | Standalone | Independent, no system parent | | **Federal Reserve** (Agency · US) | Standalone | Only when imported without a USG parent. Otherwise `Subsidiary` as in the US Federal example. | --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.kernel.ai/concepts/hierarchy-relation-taxonomy.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.