Decentralized decision-making is a method where the decision-making ability is distributed throughout a LARGER group. It TENDS to create less stringency and flatter hierarchies in organizations.

In the Scaled Agile Framework, Decentralize Decision is part of the SAFe principles at the foundation. It is the NINTH principle, which talks about decentralization for optimal value delivery. With the dependency on the decision making by the higher level authority, the lead time increases, which in turn impacts the quality due to lack of context along with the changes that happened during the waiting time.

Hence, the ninth principle focuses on decentralizing decision making so as to reduce the waiting time, improving the flow of development along with faster feedback cycles. This decentralization also gives space for innovative solutions. Though, SAFe talks about decentralization but it also mentions that there are few areas which should be kept out of the scope of decentralization, decisions with the characteristics – Infrequent, Long-Lasting and PROVIDE significant economies of scale – are centralized. Though the higher level authority can make decision on these but the decisions will be supported by the input of those affected the outcomes. Apart from the above mentioned all other decisions will be decentralized such as - Team and Program Backlog prioritization, point releases, customer emergencies, dependencies with other teams or response to defects and emerging ISSUES.