Decentralization: meaning, definitions and examples

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decentralization

 

[diːˌsɛntrəlɪˈzeɪʃən ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

government

Decentralization is the process of redistributing or dispersing functions, powers, people, or things away from a central location or authority.

Synonyms

devolution, dispersion, distribution.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
decentralization

Use when referring to the process of redistributing or dispersing functions, powers, people, or things away from a central authority. This is often used in political, administrative, or business contexts.

  • Decentralization of the company's operations helped improve local decision-making.
  • The government is promoting decentralization to shift power to regional authorities.

Examples of usage

  • Decentralization of power can lead to more efficient decision-making.
  • In a decentralized system, local governments have more autonomy.
Context #2 | Noun

business

Decentralization in business refers to the delegation of decision-making powers and responsibilities to lower-level managers or employees.

Synonyms

autonomy, delegation, empowerment.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
decentralization

Decentralization is used in contexts where power or control is distributed away from a central authority to local or regional authorities. It's often used in government, organizational structures, or systems to promote democracy, efficiency, and local decision-making.

  • The government is implementing decentralization to allow more local control over healthcare.
  • Decentralization of the company led to better regional management.
delegation

Delegation is used when authority or tasks are assigned to someone else. It is often mentioned in management, leadership, and team dynamics to distribute workload and responsibilities effectively.

  • Good managers understand the importance of delegation to achieve their goals.
  • She was praised for her delegation skills in managing the project.
empowerment

Empowerment is used to describe the process of giving individuals or groups the skills, resources, and confidence to make decisions and control their own lives. It is commonly used in social, economic, and organizational contexts to promote self-improvement and leadership.

  • The workshop focused on the empowerment of women in the community.
  • Employee empowerment initiatives have led to greater job satisfaction and productivity.
autonomy

Autonomy is used when referring to an individual's or group's ability to make their own decisions and govern themselves independently. This term is common in discussions about personal independence, self-governance, and freedom.

  • The region was granted autonomy to govern itself.
  • Gaining autonomy over their work allowed employees to be more creative and productive.

Examples of usage

  • Decentralization can improve flexibility and responsiveness in a company.
  • Empowering employees through decentralization can boost motivation.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word originates from Latin roots: 'de-' meaning 'away from' and 'centralis' meaning 'center'.
  • It gained popularity in political and economic discussions during the 1960s and 1970s, especially regarding government structures.
  • In English, it began to be widely used in the context of technology and information systems in the late 1990s.

Political Science

  • Decentralization can lead to more local empowerment, allowing communities to tailor their governance to specific needs.
  • Some democratic systems employ decentralization to redistribute power and encourage broad participation in governance.
  • There are various forms of decentralization, including political, administrative, fiscal, and market decentralization.

Technology

  • The rise of blockchain technology exemplifies decentralization in finance, enabling peer-to-peer transactions without central authorities.
  • Decentralized applications (dApps) gain popularity for their resistance to censorship and ability to operate independently of central servers.
  • Many tech startups embrace decentralization to increase transparency and security in data management.

Economics

  • Decentralization in economics refers to distributing decision-making closer to the point of consumption or production.
  • This approach can enhance competition, resulting in better services and products for consumers.
  • In corporate environments, decentralized organizations often encourage innovation by empowering employees at all levels.

Cultural Impacts

  • Cultural decentralization champions local traditions and identities, promoting diversity in thought and expression.
  • Decentralized decision-making can lead to more culturally relevant policies that reflect the community's values.
  • Through decentralization, various art forms and media can emerge, highlighting underrepresented voices and perspectives.

Translations

Translations of the word "decentralization" in other languages:

🇵🇹 descentralização

🇮🇳 विकेंद्रीकरण

🇩🇪 Dezentralisierung

🇮🇩 desentralisasi

🇺🇦 децентралізація

🇵🇱 decentralizacja

🇯🇵 分散化

🇫🇷 décentralisation

🇪🇸 descentralización

🇹🇷 desantralizasyon

🇰🇷 분권화

🇸🇦 اللامركزية

🇨🇿 decentralizace

🇸🇰 decentralizácia

🇨🇳 去中心化

🇸🇮 decentralizacija

🇮🇸 dreifstýring

🇰🇿 орталықсыздандыру

🇬🇪 დეცენტრალიზაცია

🇦🇿 mərkəzsizləşmə

🇲🇽 descentralización

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,255, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.