What issue may arise as a consequence of decentralized authority?

Decentralized authority refers to the distribution of decision-making power away from a central authority to various levels or departments within an organization. While this can lead to improvements in responsiveness and employee empowerment, one significant issue that may arise is the potential for duplication of effort.

When multiple individuals or teams have the autonomy to make decisions, especially in larger organizations, there can be overlaps in tasks and initiatives. Different departments may unknowingly pursue similar projects or solutions without coordination, leading to inefficiencies and wasted resources. This not only creates confusion but can also dilute the effectiveness of the organization's overall strategy.

In contrast, improved decision-making speed and increased morale may be perceived benefits of decentralization, as well as greater accountability, which typically arises from empowering employees. However, without careful management and communication, those benefits can be undermined by the risk of duplicated efforts. The challenge lies in balancing autonomy with coordination to ensure that decentralized authority works effectively.