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For a long time, most people have been familiar with a hierarchical, or centralized organizational structure. We know it from the government and military to large corporations, where a centralized management system has long been the norm.
However, more and more organizations of every size are starting to value the more egalitarian organizational landscapes. It allows for more freedom to the individual employee, and if your organization is to follow trends, decisions need to be made with agility, and many are finding that it has become necessary to be able to allow for quick changes.
What centralization in the workplace looks like
Centralized organizations function using a top-to-bottom authority model, basing all major decisions on word from executives and leaders. And while they often have a bad reputation for backlog and bureaucracy, there are some benefits to using this model.
Hierarchical organizations have a certain level of focus and control that can be harder to maintain for decentralized organizations, and while they tend to make large decisions more slowly, they also benefit from having clear-cut channels for implementing change company-wide. Communication and collaboration across departments tend to be easier as well, since individual teams are less likely to become information silos, and employees will have a broader base of knowledge as opposed to the areas of specific expertise that decentralization favors.
In fact, small companies can do quite well with a hierarchical system. Owners of nascent businesses tend to be hyper-involved in day-to-day operations, and staff is generally limited, making it easier to pass decisions through one central authority. As a business grows, however, the limitations of centralization begin to surface, as it starts limiting employees when decisions are on hold, an issue that many growing startups face as their scope increases.
The emergence of decentralized workplaces
Decentralization is not a new concept by any means. Johnson and Johnson is well known for using a decentralized model and in 1999, Forbes was already writing about Illinois Tool Works, a company that used autonomous production units to help isolate problems as well as successes. Today, with the proliferation of startups, accelerators, non-traditional work arrangements, and shared workspace, decentralization is becoming more and more common even within traditional corporate settings.
Rather than passing all decisions through a rigidly hierarchical system, decentralized organizations put more authority and autonomy directly in the hands of employees. A decentralized team-based management model allows units, departments, franchises, or specific teams to make decisions based on real-time factors going on around them, instead of waiting for approval from leadership. It leads to a positive workplace culture with more agile decision-making, as employees are empowered to implement ideas and make changes faster that can benefit the company.
Beyond its practical benefits, decentralization can also go a long way to boosting morale and developing the leadership ability and expertise of your workforce. It can also make it easier to pinpoint problems and cope more effectively with economic adversity.
Keep in mind that very few organizations are entirely decentralized; most employ a combination of structured management and team-based autonomy. And employees do seem to prefer semblance of structure and hierarchy to a certain extend, even if it is loose or non-traditional. Take, for example, Zappos’ recent shift toward holacracy, a move that rid the company of titles and bosses altogether. This change caused employees to leave in droves, citing confusion and a lack of motivation without any central management or oversight.
Decentralization linked to positive workplace culture
Organizational flow does not just affect the way that major decisions are made or departments are overseen. It also has a profound impact on the everyday office landscape of your employees. For example, take something as simple as holding a meeting.
In a traditionally centralized system, all bookings for meeting rooms, as well as IT requests, would need to go through a direct supervisor or require a step by step approval process overseen by an IT or room manager. It might be difficult to gain approval to coveted rooms like the corner office or the board room, and requests likely need to be submitted weeks in advance in order to guarantee access to an appropriate meeting space. And that is assuming your request is approved at all.
This makes it nearly impossible for employees to easily accommodate last-minute changes, or even hold informal team meetings to discuss progress or brainstorm away from their desks. While such a system certainly ensures an organized system for using company resources, it can also be cumbersome to work with, and result in the opposite of positive workplace culture.
By contrast, in a decentralized organization, meeting management systems like AskCody make it easy for employees to book rooms, request IT needs, and make last minute changes to meeting times or locations on their own. Meeting room schedules and resource availability are visible and accessible to everyone, and conflicts that arise are generally hashed out between individual employees or departments. Giving the employee more freedom to handle their tasks.
Decentralized organizations also tend to implement less traditional workplace environments like hot desking, office hoteling, and use of coworking spaces. This creates a greater sense of freedom and flexibility, and shared or flexible office and meeting room setup's often incorporate informal spaces for meeting and collaborating that can take some of the pressure off the use of meeting rooms and event spaces.
The degree of centralization within your company can have myriad other effects on your otherwise a positive workplace culture across all departments and divisions, and can have major implications when it comes to employee well being, company growth and expansion, and ability to change with the trends.
The future of decentralization
The future of workplaces is moving towards decentralization, and for good reason. While centralized structures have their benefits, such as focus and control, decentralized organizations offer more freedom and agility in decision-making. This shift empowers employees and fosters a positive workplace culture.
By giving more authority and autonomy to teams and individuals, organizations can tap into the creativity, flexibility, and leadership potential of their workforce. Decentralization also allows for quicker decision-making, which is crucial in today's fast-paced business world. Additionally, it boosts morale and enables organizations to adapt to changing trends.
It is important to strike a balance between structure and autonomy, as too much decentralization can lead to confusion and lack of motivation. However, by embracing decentralization, organizations can create a more engaged and productive workforce.
Conclusion - boost your workplace culture with decentralization
In conclusion, the shift towards decentralized workplaces is becoming more prevalent in organizations of all sizes. While centralized structures provide focus and control, decentralization allows for more freedom and agility in decision-making. It empowers employees, boosts morale, and fosters a positive workplace culture.
Although a balance between structure and autonomy is necessary, the benefits of decentralization in terms of creativity, flexibility, and leadership development align with modern workplace values. By embracing decentralization, organizations can enhance their workplace culture and adapt to the changing trends in the business world.
To learn more about how decentralization can benefit your organization, explore how AskCody's meeting management solution can boost your workplace culture.
