Centralised

Centralised, or centralized in American spelling, describes a structure in which authority, decision-making, and control are concentrated in a single central body or a limited group, rather than being distributed among many units. Centralisation aims to standardise policies, streamline communications, and ensure unified direction across an organization, project, or system. The term is commonly used in governance, business management, and information technology.

Common applications include government, where centralised authority can enable uniform policy and resource allocation, and corporations, where central management sets strategy and standards for all subsidiaries. In information technology, centralised systems may rely on a central repository or authentication service to enforce security and data governance. Centralisation can also apply to logistics, with centralized planning and warehousing controlling distribution.

Advantages of centralisation include consistent decision-making, economies of scale, easier policy enforcement, and clearer accountability. Disadvantages include potential bottlenecks, slower responsiveness to local needs, greater risk from a single point of failure, and reduced innovation at lower levels. The effectiveness of centralisation depends on organizational size, complexity, culture, and the availability of reliable communication channels.

Hybrid forms, where core strategic decisions are centralised while operational decisions are delegated to local units, are common. Critics argue for decentralisation or federated models when diversity and local knowledge are important.