Distributed Authority is the practice of aligning decision rights with information and knowledge, enabling people closest to problems and opportunities to act on their insights.
The Principle
Authority should flow to where:
- Information naturally exists
- Knowledge is deepest
- Context is richest
- Action is needed
- Impact will be felt
Benefits
Speed:
- Decisions made quickly
- No bottlenecks
- Rapid response
- Market agility
Quality:
- Informed by context
- Based on deep knowledge
- Grounded in reality
- Tested by proximity
Engagement:
- People invested in outcomes
- Ownership and accountability
- Initiative and innovation
- Meaningful work
Requirements
Distributed Authority requires:
- Capability building
- Clear principles
- Psychological safety
- Feedback systems
- Trust in judgment
The Alternative
Centralized Control creates bottlenecks, disconnects decisions from information, and suppresses initiative—the opposite of what adaptive organizations need.