The repetitive shifting of decision authority between layers or actors under pressure.
Full Definition
Authority Oscillation occurs when decision authority does not remain structurally contained within defined boundaries but shifts repeatedly across organizational layers.
Instead of clear escalation, authority moves back and forth:
Top-down reassertion → Local reinterpretation → Central override → Operational workaround.
Oscillation does not resolve tension.
It amplifies it.
Under pressure, oscillation increases when:
Decision Boundaries are unclear
Activation Lines are inconsistently enforced
Authority Diffusion is present
Political Complexity is high
Authority Oscillation produces structural instability because responsibility becomes dynamic rather than contained.
Execution continues, but coherence weakens.
When oscillation intensifies, the system experiences:
Increased Decision Latency
Escalation Saturation
Behavioral Escalation
Decision Integrity erosion
Authority Oscillation is not collaboration.
It is structural instability disguised as responsiveness.
Structural Role in NAP
Within NAP, Authority Oscillation functions as an instability amplifier.
It indicates failure in:
Authority containment
Boundary enforcement
Escalation logic clarity
Stable systems escalate vertically and resolve.
Unstable systems oscillate horizontally and recycle tension.
Authority Oscillation is often the bridge between:
Authority Diffusion → Decision Latency → Escalation Saturation.
Engineering against oscillation requires reinforcing:
Clear Decision Boundaries
Stable Activation Lines
Layer-specific authority definition
Authority must not drift.
It must be structurally anchored.
