ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEFENSE OF DISSERTATION RESEARCH
The faculty of the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering department is pleased to issue an invitation to Mr. Murat Balci’s defense of the research conducted for his dissertation.
The defense is open to the public.
Date: Thursday, April 16th, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Location: Engineering Systems Building, EMSE Conference Room 2101A
Online Access: Via Zoom Meeting ID: 947 1740 4247 Passcode: 152147
https://odu.zoom.us/j/94717404247?pwd=eLqjwtKvuYJ0zj7OA3DXYxN2Oj2Y0W.1&from=addon
Doctoral Candidate: Murat Balci
STRUCTURE MEETS CONTEXT: A SIMULATION STUDY OF CENTRALIZED AND DECENTRALIZED DECISION-MAKING IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS
Director: Dr. Andres Sousa-Poza
Abstract:
The question of when to centralize or decentralize decision-making authority is a foundational problem in organizational theory and management science. Yet existing research often favors decentralized structures, frequently treating them as universally superior, and provides limited guidance on when centralization may be more effective. Leaning toward decentralization without thoroughly exploring options leaves organizational designers without clear direction under varying environmental conditions. This study addresses that gap by developing and applying a simulation-based framework to evaluate the context-dependent effectiveness of centralized and decentralized decision-making structures.
Drawing on contingency theory and decision science, the study conceptualizes environmental complexity along two dimensions: dynamism (static vs. dynamic) and contextual specificity (context-specific vs. non-context-specific), resulting in four situation types of increasing complexity. A discrete-event simulation model based on Lanchester attrition dynamics is developed and implemented using a full-factorial experimental design, with command structure, operation type, situation type, and force ratio as independent variables. Performance is evaluated using three measures: effectiveness, resource efficiency, and time efficiency.
The results show that the relative effectiveness of centralized and decentralized structures is systematically context dependent. Centralized structures achieve higher performance under stable, predictable conditions, while decentralized structures outperform in dynamic, complex environments. This crossover pattern is explained by a fundamental trade-off between two underlying mechanisms: redistribution, which enables coordinated resource allocation under centralized decision-making, and responsiveness, which enables continuous local adaptation under decentralized decision-making. As environmental complexity increases, redistribution becomes temporally misaligned with operational conditions, whereas responsiveness sustains performance through ongoing adaptation.
These findings contribute to organizational theory by providing a mechanism-based explanation for the contingent effectiveness of decision-making structures. The study also offers practical insight for organizational design under uncertainty, suggesting that structure selection should align with the rate and nature of environmental change rather than reflect a fixed preference for centralization or decentralization.
Bio:
Murat Balci is a Ph.D. candidate in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering at Old Dominion University. His research examines centralized and decentralized command approaches in complex operational environments through discrete-event simulation, grounded in Contingency Theory and organizational behavior. He holds an M.A. in Management of National and International Security Strategies and Leadership from the Army War College (Turkey) and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Turkish Naval Military Academy. He served as a Staff Officer in the Turkish Navy for over sixteen years, including as a Subject Matter Expert at NATO HQ Allied Command Transformation.