Here's where we can learn from the corporations. They successfully release products without ceding their decisionmaking authority to their more skilled workers.
The more enlightened ones offer empowerment to their skilled workers -- but also leash them. Because they know what can happen.
Now, an engineer (or other professional) might win more power than a secretary, much like a priesthood can wield significant power that a dictator can't ignore. But those in power know better than to be controlled by their own technocrats. What they will do is listen to them and then make the final decision. They'll even rationally act against their short term self-interests to ensure they maintain authority. (And then maybe find ways to commoditize these threatening professionals so the challenge doesn't happen again.)
Of course, I have no intention of following the corporate example. But they've built up a lot of management literature through trial-and-error, and it's useful to learn from the problems they face.
Tayssir