Deconcentration is regarded as the least extensive form of decentralization. " This merely involves the shifting of workload from central government ministry headquarters to staff located in offices at outside of the national capital and the staff may not be given the authority to given to decide how those functions are to be performed: (Rondinelli: 1981: 137). Thus by a shifting of workload from headquarters to its branches at the field, the government would increase autonomy of its regional offices which means simply the administration of the periphery by the use of officials in the outside.
This form of organizational arrangement is common to both in developed and developing countries. For instance in order to implement policies of the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka, several branch offices are being operated in every district throughout the country. These officers are not allowed to make decision in designing the policies related to the subjects but are responsible in implementing the plans designed by the head office