Which strategy aims to streamline decision-making by focusing authority at the top levels of management?

The strategy that focuses on streamlining decision-making by concentrating authority at the top levels of management is centralization. This approach ensures that key decisions are made by a limited number of top executives rather than distributed among various levels of the organization. Centralization can lead to faster decision-making processes when there is a clear hierarchy, as it avoids confusion and inconsistencies that might arise when too many individuals are involved in making decisions.

By keeping authority at the top, organizations can maintain more control over strategic direction, ensuring that policies and procedures are uniformly implemented across all departments. For organizations facing rapid change or uncertainty, centralization can provide stability by allowing for unified responses to challenges.

In contrast, decentralization refers to distributing authority to lower levels of management, which can lead to a more empowered workforce but may result in slower decision-making due to increased complexity and potential fragmentation of focus. The terms span of control and delegation refer to the scope of managerial oversight and the distribution of tasks and responsibilities, respectively, rather than the concentration of decision-making authority.