Centralised vs Decentralised
RESERCH JUSTIFICATION
The modern world is made up of centralised and decentralised systems, therefore understanding the strengths and weaknesses of these is crucial. Centralisation can provide scale and essential resources, while decentralisation enables context-specific, adaptive responses. Neither works entirely in isolation.
What are the implications and applications of centralised and decentralised models?
The Systems
A centralised system can be described as a form of heteronomy, where decisions are made by an authority external to the individual or organisation. Power is concentrated within a single person or group, responsible for those lower down the hierarchy. This structure is known for its efficiency through consistent decision making, however, it is often less flexible in addressing localised issues (John FC Turner, Housing by People: Towards Autonomy in Building Environments, 1976).
By contrast, a decentralised system distributes authority more evenly across multiple groups. Each group has the autonomy to make its own decisions, enabling greater independence and flexibility at the local level. However, this can lead to inefficiencies, as decision-making often requires extensive coordination among equally empowered participants (John FC Turner, 1976).
Whilst the distinction between centralised and decentralised systems is clear in theory, it is seldom reflected in practice. John F.C. Turner highlights this dilemma, noting that the “practical and necessary limits to heteronomy and its opposite, autonomy” must be considered for each specific context. In Housing by People: Towards Autonomy in Building Environments, Turner proposes a hybrid approach, arguing that “personal and locally specific services, must be autonomous”. However, he acknowledges that such “autonomy is far from absolute”, as it relies on access to essential resources and infrastructure, which can only be provided efficiently through a centralised system (John FC Turner,1976).
Centralised v Decentralised
