The following would be an example of a cost center at General Electric Company:

GE HR

GE Power.

GE Aviation.

GE Healthcare.

This is the definition of a cost center:

A division that produces internal design graphics that are also sold online to external customers.

A department that provides services at an hourly rate.

A responsibility center incurring only expense items and producing no direct revenue from the sale of goods or services.

A unit that generates and routes leads.

Where are goals established in a decentralized organization?

By outside consultants who have knowledge of industry best practices.

At the lower levels of the organization, by department, unit, location, brand, etc. and promoted upward through the organization.

By a workgroup of stakeholders who have interviewed a crosssection of managers and employees.

At the senior levels of management and pushed down through the organization.