What does delayering involve in an organization?

Delayering refers to the process of removing one or more levels of management from an organizational hierarchy. This restructuring aims to create a flatter organization by reducing the number of managerial layers between staff and top management. The benefits of delayering often include improved communication and faster decision-making, as it encourages a more direct flow of information and empowerment among employees.

In a delayered structure, employees may have greater responsibility as they interact more closely with management, and the organization can potentially respond more quickly to changes in the market or operational issues. This approach contrasts with adding management levels, distributing work evenly, or merely increasing job responsibilities, which are not the focus of delayering and could lead to complications such as increased bureaucracy or diluted accountability.