Episode 12 - Centralise or decentralise

Centralisation or decentralisation for a company is an integral part of governance. It’s a question of risk, consistency, and speed. If you centralise everything, you gain control… but you often create bottlenecks. If you decentralise everything, you gain speed… but you can end up with confusion and inconsistency. The right model is often hybrid: ✅ Centralise the rules of the game: standards, frameworks, thresholds, KPIs, risk management, etc. ✅ Decentralise execution within the centralised rules: day-to-day decisions, local adaptation Simple criteria to decide: High risk → centraliseNeed for consistency → centraliseNeed for speed & proximity → decentraliseScarce expertise → centraliseWell-trained, stable local teams → further decentraliseThe more you grow → the more you standardise and the more you clarify delegation.