The Deloitte Insights article by Tiffany McDowell and David Mallon explains why clear decision‑rights—who makes a decision, what decisions must be made, and how they are made—are a critical lever for organizational performance. Drawing on research linking high organization‑design maturity to 23 % higher revenue growth and dramatically better EPS, the authors identify five high‑maturity attributes: (1) simplify and clarify decision rights, (2) establish strong, transparent accountability, (3) align decision‑making groups to a common mission, (4) encourage distributed authority, and (5) prioritize the customer voice. The piece defines decision‑rights, distinguishes them from structure and workflow, and presents practical tools such as decision inventories and the RACI framework. It also explores common barriers—especially senior‑executive resistance—and offers concrete steps for leaders to embed decision‑rights into design, culture, incentives, and governance. Real‑world examples (e.g., a Fortune 500 financial services firm and a global pharmaceutical company) illustrate how clarifying decision rights can unlock speed, quality, learning, and competitive advantage. The article concludes with a call to action: adopting a detailed decision‑rights approach can create a transparent, accountable, and adaptable organization that outperforms peers.
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Decision‑Rights as a Performance Driver
Explains the empirical link between clear decision‑rights, organization‑design maturity, and superior business outcomes (revenue growth, EPS).