What does "Grant Access Using Hierarchies" do in a public sharing model?

In a public sharing model, the "Grant Access Using Hierarchies" feature is designed to enhance visibility and access controls based on the organizational hierarchy within Salesforce. When this feature is enabled, it allows users to view records that are owned by their subordinates, meaning that a manager can see the records owned by their direct reports. This visibility is crucial for effective management and oversight within the organization, enabling higher-tier users to have an understanding of their team's activities and contributions.

This hierarchical sharing model ensures that information flows upward through the organizational structure, promoting transparency and facilitating collaboration along each level. It is particularly effective when combined with public-read or public-read/write sharing settings, allowing a broader sharing scope while still aligning access with the organization's managerial structure.

The other options do not accurately depict the functionality of "Grant Access Using Hierarchies." For example, disabling sharing would contradict the purpose of promoting access to information. Access matching based on roles misunderstands the feature's design; it is based on hierarchy, allowing broader access without requiring exact role alignment. Additionally, while this feature is commonly associated with standard objects, it is not exclusive to them, thus making that option inaccurate.