In a centralized organizational structure, who primarily makes decisions?

In a centralized organizational structure, decision-making authority is concentrated in a central figure or group. This structure emphasizes control and uniformity, where a few individuals or a leadership team are tasked with making key operational and strategic decisions for the entire organization. This allows for a consistent vision and strategic direction across the organization, ensuring that all departments and employees align with the same objectives.

In contrast, other options reflect decentralized structures or collective approaches to decision-making. When decision-making is collective, as suggested in the first option, it can lead to a more democratic process but may slow down decision-making and dilute accountability. The option mentioning the board of directors implies a specific governing body, which may not directly handle day-to-day operational decisions. Lastly, individual departments making independent decisions can lead to a lack of cohesion and strategic alignment within the organization. Each of these alternatives illustrates the different approaches to organization structures, emphasizing why the centralized model, represented by a central figure or group, is defined by its top-down decision-making process.