  The competition between the connectivity and the local or global order in
model fully-flexible chain molecules is investigated by molecular-dynamics
simulations. States with both missing (melts) and high (crystal) global order
are considered. Local order is characterized within the first coordination
shell (FCS) of a tagged monomer and found to be lower than in atomic systems in
both melt and crystal. The role played by the bonds linking the tagged monomer
to FCS monomers (radial bonds), and the bonds linking two FCS monomers (shell
bonds) is investigated. The detailed analysis in terms of Steinhardt's
orientation order parameters Q_l (l = 2 - 10) reveals that increasing the
number of shell bonds decreases the FCS order in both melt and crystal.
Differently, the FCS arrangements organize the radial bonds. Even if the
molecular chains are fully flexible, the distribution of the angle formed by
adjacent radial bonds exhibits sharp contributions at the characteristic angles
{\theta} = 70{\deg}, 122{\deg}, 180{\deg}. The fractions of adjacent radial
bonds with {\theta} = 122{\deg}, 180{\deg} are enhanced by the global order of
the crystal, whereas the fraction with 70{\deg} < {\theta} < 110{\deg} is
nearly unaffected by the crystallization. Kink defects, i.e. large lateral
displacements of the chains, are evidenced in the crystalline state.
