Flattening of hierarchical organizational layers — true for both business bureaucracy and also political decision making

Modi Scraps ministerial panels!   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-government-scraps-ministerial-panels/articleshow/35862930.cms

So what! What does expect from this, why was this done, why was it said to be done, what will it result into, will decision making be pushed down or upward, will their be centralization or decentralization……….. lots of unanswered questions… is their any received wisdom around us to better understand the move…..  YES there is !!

Look up …. a Harvard paper on the subject …….. http://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Publication%20Files/12-087_bc50bde2-3016-457a-9bee-dc988cb1056b.pdf

The paper, based on an empirical analysis of US business firms, finds that there is evidence of flattening in business organizations. However, though the normal argument is that this empowers the lower levels, there is also evidence that it empowers the top managers more, with larger centralization at the CEO level. Centralization or decentralization does not come by default….    The paper argues and presents evidence that “Flattening at the top is a complex phenomenon that in the end looks more like centralization”…… Should we expect centralization and more empowered ministers in the MODI cabinet!! And with ministers getting overloaded with work……