Which statement accurately describes one reason a delegation of authority may be needed?
- To relieve the granting authority of the ultimate responsibility for the incident
- To specify the Incident Action Plan to be implemented by the Incident Commander
- When the incident scope is complex or beyond existing authorities
- If the Incident Commander is acting within his or her existing authorities
The correct answer is option 3. Here’s everything you should know about delegation of authority, its purpose and more.
What is delegation of authority?
For a project, when you pass on the responsibilities of a task to another employee, that is known as a delegation of authority.
A manager is responsible for task distribution, he can directly allot the responsibilities to anyone according to his preference. The team members then take on different responsibilities.
After delegation, it is the duty of employees to accomplish them whichever way it seems fit. Every individual has the responsibility to efficiently complete their work.
Delegation authority is more than just passing on work to the subordinates. It is sharing, handling and taking ownership of what they do. Accountability increases efficiency.
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Purpose of delegation of authority
Firstly, it allows better functioning of the team. Secondly, a streamlined process that results in more productivity and effective results.
Career growth
Dividing tasks can help entrée level employees get the skills and experience they need to grow.
Motivation
The trust motivates employees to perform better. Also, makes them more driven towards their goals.
Increased productivity
Process wise distribution increases productivity. On the other hand, it helps in segregating the mix up of duties as well.
Continuity and employee growth
In case of any a bad situation, an employee gets absent or can’t work for a while then the rest of the team would not get affected, they will keep on working and the delivery will be on time.
Can you delegate authority and responsibility completely?
Delegation of authority is possible but responsibility, in the end, remains of the manager. The employees bring about the result but the responsibility is of the manager. He will answer any query related to the work of the project.
Which statement accurately describes one reason a delegation of authority may be needed?
When the incident scope is complex or beyond existing authorities, a need for delegation becomes essential. Here’s why.
Power transfer is necessary as one person can’t handle every responsibility. This helps in letting go of some load from managers. They easily handle other pressing matters. On the other hand, employees carryout the tasks to complete the project.
Moreover, the need for transferring duties increases rapidly. The bigger the firm heavier the workload. Controlling every aspect often decreases efficiency and demotivates the employees. It is important to boost the morale of the workers by letting them own their work.
So, in a nutshell, transfer is important when the scope is vast and complex to handle. When the duties go beyond the strength of handling that is when the transfer becomes vital to reach the target.
How to delegate authority?
- Assign specific tasks
- Set goal expectations
- Regular monitoring of progress
- Hold them accountable for their actions