87. Traffic Services Company has recently expanded by acquiring two smaller companies in the transportation
industry. Prior to these acquisitions, Traffic Services used a centralized style of organization because it was
small enough that the top management team was heavily involved in the day-to-day activities of the firm. Ms.
Causeway, the CEO, feels that this style is no longer suitable to the larger, more diverse organization.
She has hired a consultant to help her and her management team create a new structure which, when developed
on paper, will be described to the affected employees and their inputs will be sought. Since no one in the
company knows much about management styles, Ms. Causeway felt this would be an efficient way to get the
ball rolling but realized the consultants would not have the specialized knowledge about her company plus the
two acquisitions.
One of the first things she feels she will need to do is explain the benefits of decentralization that will accrue to
both the company and the affected employees. She asks you, as the consultant, to provide her with a general list
of advantages of decentralization that she will tailor to her company before presenting it.