Which one of these can be delegated?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
Authority
Delegation is a fundamental process in management where a superior assigns a part of their work and the related authority to a subordinate. Authority is the legitimate right to command, make decisions, and use organizational resources to accomplish an objective. It is the only element that can be formally transferred or 'pushed down' the organizational hierarchy. By delegating authority, the manager provides the subordinate with the necessary freedom and official power to act in their name, making it possible for the subordinate to carry out the assigned duties effectively. This flow of authority is what makes the superior-subordinate relationship functional.

The incorrect option is 1:
Power refers to a person's ability to influence the behavior of others and is a much broader concept than authority. Power can arise from formal position, expertise, personality, or control over resources, and much of it is personal or informal. Because power is not solely a formal right granted by the organizational structure, it cannot be formally transferred through a simple managerial act of delegation. While a subordinate may gain *some* influence by being given authority, the manager's core power base remains intact and cannot be handed over.

The incorrect option is 3:
Responsibility is the obligation of a subordinate to properly perform the task assigned to them. When a manager assigns work, they impose responsibility on the subordinate. However, the superior’s *own* responsibility to their manager for the successful completion of the task remains with them. They cannot completely escape the duty simply by passing the task on. Therefore, in the context of delegation, while a subordinate accepts responsibility for the task's execution, the delegating manager retains ultimate responsibility for the outcome.

The incorrect option is 4:
Accountability is the liability or answerability for the final outcome—the obligation to justify the results achieved. Accountability flows upward in the organization and cannot be transferred. Since the delegating manager was initially entrusted with the entire task by their superior, they remain solely and ultimately accountable for its success or failure. Delegation is only about the execution of work and the authority to perform it; the final answerability for the results always resides with the person who did the delegating.