A decentralized organization is a structure where decision-making authority is distributed among various levels or locations rather than being concentrated at the top. This allows for more autonomy and flexibility, enabling teams or individuals to respond quickly to changes and challenges in their specific areas. In such organizations, communication flows more freely, and employees often have greater responsibility and ownership over their work. Examples of decentralized organizations include many nonprofit organizations and startups, where teams operate independently while still aligning with the overall mission and goals of the organization.