Correct Answer: Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

Solution : The correct answer is (b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.

The assertion is true. Centralization can lead to bureaucracy and delays in decision-making because decision-making authority is concentrated at the top levels of the organization, causing bottlenecks and a longer decision-making process.

The reason is not the correct explanation for the assertion. Centralization typically does not empower lower-level employees to make independent decisions; it centralizes decision-making authority in higher levels of the organization. This contradicts the notion that centralization empowers lower-level employees to make independent decisions.