Which of the following is an advantage of centralization?

Centralization refers to the concentration of decision-making authority at the top levels of an organization. One significant advantage of centralization is faster decision making. When decisions are made by a small group of individuals or a single authority, it typically expedites the process since there is less need for discussion and consensus-building among multiple parties. This streamlined approach means that fewer people are involved in the decision-making process, leading to quicker implementation of strategies and responses to changes in the business environment.

In a centralized structure, leaders can act rapidly and decisively, which is essential in situations that demand prompt resolutions. For instance, during a crisis or when immediate action is required to capitalize on a market opportunity, centralized decision-making can prove advantageous because it eliminates the delays associated with seeking input from various levels of staff or departments.

The other options focus on aspects like employee engagement, reducing bureaucracy, and improving teamwork, which are often associated with decentralized structures where input from various levels of the organization is encouraged. In contrast, centralization can sometimes lead to less employee involvement and lower engagement since decisions are primarily made by upper management without the same level of input from staff.