Delegation of authority is the process of transferring responsibility for a task to another employee. It involves dividing labor and decision-making responsibility to an individual that reports to a leader or manager. The process allows managers to share responsibility, ownership, and decision-making with their subordinates. Delegating authority can improve efficiency by making more employees accountable for their own work and activities, and it can empower employees to invest themselves more in their work and develop their own skills and abilities.
The delegation of authority involves three central elements: responsibility, authority, and accountability. Responsibility refers to the obligation to perform a task, authority refers to the power to make decisions and take actions necessary to complete the task, and accountability refers to the obligation to report on the results of the task.
Delegated authority can be personal or positional. Personal delegation is a delegation of authority to an employee by name and may not be exercised by anyone else, while positional delegation is addressed to a position and can be exercised by anyone who holds that position.
Delegation of authority is a formal organizational process that allows staff in managerial roles to transfer their duties among their subordinates and lower-level employees. The main purpose of delegating authority is to ensure a smooth and effective business operation. The definition and level of delegated authorities vary across different types of organizations and industries.
In summary, delegation of authority is the process of assigning tasks or responsibilities to another person and giving them the right to perform those tasks autonomously. It involves dividing labor and decision-making responsibility to an individual that reports to a leader or manager. The process can improve efficiency, empower employees, and ensure a smooth and effective business operation.
