GM Friend,
Delegation Of Authority - One of the sound principles of administra- tion is delegation of authority is desirable for private management.
Delegation Of Authority- it is a must for public administration. As an organisation grows in size, the need for delega- tion is all the more clearly indicated.
There is a close relation between division and delegation of authority, Even as a sion of labour aims at greater and utilisation of talents and skills, dele of authority infuses efficiency and produce better results.
The delegation of powers means that a higher authority grants a lower authority the authority to carry out specific tasks.
It is a devolution of authority by a person to his agent or sub ordinate, subject to his right of control and supervision.
Sometimes authority may b delegated from a lower level to a higher level,The Indian Constitution provides that the State Government, with the consent of the Central Government, may entrust some of its functions to Central Government officials.
The share-holders of a company delegate authority to the Board of Directors.
Need for Delegation of Autority
- (i) Through delega tion the various levels of organisation may be usod more appropriately.
The chief authority is able to devote its attention to more impor tant matters while the routine and operational delails are looked after by the lower levels.
- (ii) Delegation will increase the sense of res ponsibility and bring out the enhanced poten- tial for work. The midd le-level and lower- level officials should also have a sense of involvement and participation.
- (iii) The activities of administration are discharged more efficiently, economically and expedi tiously by having the scene of decision-making near the scene of action.
Delay may be minimised and responsibility can be fixed.
- (iv) In certain cases adjustment of policies and programmes to local conditions requires discretionary powers to be vested in the field staff so that they may manage the local situations.
Limit to Delegation: While delegation is desirable in public administration, it is for the higher authority to decide on the optimum level of delegation.
Besides there are definite limitations on and hindrances to delegation.
Always make sure that everyone involved knows exactly what is expected of them when delegating authority:
- (i) The extent to which authority may be delegated in public adminis- tration is restricted and indicated by the Con- stitution, laws and regulation.
- (ii) The quality of the staff working at the lower level must be considered when making decisions about who should have what power.
- (iii) The degree of coordination which is required for the ultimate accountability of the Government has to be consciously fixed.
Delegation can- not amount to abdication of responsibility on the part of the higher authority.
- (iv) Higher authorities and superior officers are likely to be protective of their power, which can make it difficult for them to relinquish it.
So even while maintaining the appearance of delegation, the higher authority seeks to exercise the dele- gated powers directly.
- (v) The necessary sense of trust and faith are often lacking in the superior authority.
The top brass at the company think that the lower levels are not up to par when it comes to making wise decisions.Besides, the loyalty of lower levels is also generally doubted, some times with valid reasons.
- (vi) Certain leaders want to be always in the limelight and to project their image in each and every thing. Leaders who are unwilling to delegate authority are not good leaders.
Difference between Delegation and Decen- tralisation: Delegation should be distinct decentralisation.
Decentralisation implies that the central authority has divested itself of certain powers which have been given to the lower or local authorities.
Even if the central authority does have the power to take back these powers, it may not be exercised in a timely manner.
For all pur- poses, in the exercise of the powers vested in them, the lower authority becomes autono- mous.
There is no right to supervision in decentralisation.
Delegation, in and of itself, does not necessarily mean that decisions will be made differently by the lower authority than they would have been if the decision-making power had remained with the higher authority.
The directives issued by will have a direct impact on how the lower authority carries out its duties.
Types of delegation of authority
There are two types of delegation - temporary and permanent. Temporary delegation occurs when an individual or group is given specific directions, instructions, or goals for a limited period of time. Permanent delegation involves delegating authority permanently to an individual or group, usually as a result of some type of performance evaluation or review.
There are three main types of delegation of authority: functional, role, and structural.
Functional delegation is when a manager assigns specific tasks to employees or groups without changing their job duties. This type of delegation facilitates smoother communication between different parts of the organization and helps keep everyone on task.
Role delegation is when managers assign specific roles to employees, instead of giving them complete control over their work assignments.
This approach allows for more flexibility and better coordination among team members as responsibilities are divided fairly.
Structural delegation occurs when hierarchies are established within an organization in order to distribute power and decision-making down the chain as far as possible.
It can help foster a sense of teamwork while ensuring that critical decisions stay with senior management."
Principle of delegation of authority
The principle of delegation of authority is a management theory that states that effective organizations are composed of individuals who have been given specific tasks and responsibilities to carry out.
These task owners trust their team members to complete the assigned task without supervision, while also taking responsibility for their own actions and outcomes.
This allows teams to work effectively together by sharing expertise and knowledge while still holding each individual accountable for his or her performance.
This principle is especially beneficial in highly decentralized environments, where communication between team members can be difficult or impossible due to the dispersed nature of information.
Delegation of authority allows tasks to be divided among multiple individuals, thereby making it possible for everyone involved in the process to learn something new.
Moreover, this framework encourages creativity and innovation because those tasked with carrying out an assignment will often try new things in order not only meet expectations but exceed them.
Delegating authority helps ensure that all team members are actively engaged in the objectives of the organization, which makes them more productive and motivated.
In addition, it prevents conflictual situations from arising as every member knows his or her role within the context of the whole system.
Principle of delegation of authority is a management principle that states that an individual or group should be allowed to carry out tasks and responsibilities with minimal direct supervision.
This allows employees to focus on their specific job duties, while the supervisor takes care of overall organisational goals and objectives.
This principle is especially beneficial in situations where there are multiple people who need to take action in order to achieve a common goal.
By delegating responsibility, it can become much easier for everyone involved to understand what needs to be done, without having to waste time second guessing each other.
Furthermore, by giving individuals freedom when it comes to working methods and processes, you can increase efficiency and productivity within your organisation.
When implementing the Principle of Delegation of Authority into your business settings, make sure that all stakeholders are on board with the decision.
It's important not only for efficient operation within your organisation- but also for providing a sense of stability and security for both staff members and clients/customers alike!
Importance of delegation of authority
Delegation of authority is one of the most important aspects of effective management.
It enables individuals to focus on their specific tasks, while still having a sense of responsibility and ownership over their work.
When delegated correctly, it can foster collaboration and communication between team members, increase productivity, and improve overall morale. There are several benefits to delegation of authority: Delegate responsibilities as closely to the task at hand as possible in order to maintain control and minimize risk.
This allows you to stay focused on your goals while also ensuring that critical tasks are completed efficiently and properly. Increased efficiency means less time spent managing trivial matters .
Instead, you can spend more time strategizing or planning new projects; both essential elements for any successful businessperson or manager . Because everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses , delegating authority allows each individual member of a team to have an impact without feeling overwhelmed or outcompeted .
They know that they are working together towards a common goal instead of individually competing against one another . When done effectively, delegation will not only help maintain sanity within chaos but it will also lead to increased productivity across the board - even among those who were initially assigned minimal duties! There are several reasons why delegation is such an effective tool in organizational settings: It allows different areas of the organization (e.g., marketing, sales, accounting) to focus on specific tasks rather than trying to cover all bases themselves;
Tasks can be split up into smaller chunks so they're less overwhelming;
The person who delegates the task knows exactly what needs to be done and doesn't have any doubt about it, which reduces stress levels both for them and those receiving the delegated responsibilty;
When employees feel empowered and their responsibilities have been clearly outlined, they are much more likelyto give their best effort
Conclusion :-
Delegation of authority is one of the best ways through which you can get things done faster.
When bosses delegate some work to their employees, they expect them to complete it in time.
They also give them enough freedom and flexibility to work independently.
This leaves you with more than enough time to focus on your tasks while being sure that everything is running smoothly at the end of the day!