Home Economics Business Studies Search the Guru Links Message Boards Contacts
 
Home

Delegation

 

Delegation is the passing of authority down the hierarchy, i.e., subordinates are entrusted with tasks by superiors.  There is an obligation to complete a task effectively.

 

Delegation can only work upon the basis of mutual trust and the willingness of the boss to relinquish control.  The boss must trust the subordinate to carry out the task effectively, whilst the subordinate must be sure that the boss isn’t just passing on dull or impossible tasks.

 

advantages (see decentralisation advantages)

·      frees management time.

·      the development of a sense of real participation and sustained motivation amongst subordinates.

·      commitment to decisions once they are made.

·      management and supervisory development on a personal level through the exercise of authority.

·      much more flexibility in decision making, which is essential in a fast changing business and technological environment.

 

 

It is the manager’s responsibility to define clearly to the limits of the authority delegated and to ensure that the subordinate always has sufficient power to back up that authority and it competent to use it.  Nevertheless, the manager remains responsible for the decision made by the subordinate and there is therefore a constant temptation to interfere and check on the performance of the subordinate (if this taken too far you will lose all of the advantages).

 

 

 

 

E-mail Steve Margetts