Researchers have laid bare the behaviour of Australian bosses, revealing how everything from the pink shirt under their power suit to the size of their leather-backed chair and their choice of jargon-heavy management-speak, mimic the strutting and chest-puffing seen among our animal ancestors.

They say bosses do not spend as much time reading or working at their computer alone as employees believe they do, and instead pass the vast majority of the day in meetings.

There, they stamp their authority with the biggest chair, a louder voice and frequent interruptions to conversation.

The University of NSW report said, ''A favourable comparison can be made with the similar role of the alpha male in capuchin monkeys, chimpanzees and Japanese macaques.''

The research is based on hundreds of interviews with managers and employees in hospitals, but lead researcher Professor Jeffrey Braithwaite, from the Institute of Health Innovation, said the findings were true for all industries.

He says it shows the prehistoric behaviours, such as male domination, protecting what is perceived as their ''turf'' and ostracising those who do not agree with the group.

''What we found was universal animalistic displays of power, masculinity, sexuality and authority that seem to be hard-wired in,'' Professor Braithwaite said.

''This tribal culture is similar to what we would have seen in hunter gatherer bands on the savannah in southern Africa.''

The report, published in the Journal of Health Organisation, gives an anthropological breakdown of boss behaviours, explaining their preference for ''firm handshakes, dense jargon and frequent use of acronyms''.

Depending on their rank, they receive later-model vehicles and ''expensive-looking office furniture'' so their dominant position is on display for employees.