Page 126 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Unit 6: Delegation, Authority and Power

6.1 Delegation Notes

Many companies fail in their specific businesses because of their lack of effective delegation.
Delegation is not just telling an employee to answer a call or to fill out some paperwork for a
manager or make him do such easy task; rather, it is about assigning challenging jobs.
The reason why most companies find it hard to delegate difficult tasks is the lack of confidence
in their employees. Delegation is very important for a business to prosper. Effective delegation
allows you to trim down your tasks so that you can concentrate on the major areas of your
business. Now the question is: What is delegation?

6.1.1 Meaning of Delegation

Delegation is the process by which the manager assigns a portion of his total workload to
others. Effective delegation permits managers to tackle higher-priority duties while helping to
train and develop lower-level managers. Thus delegation is a process whereby a superior passes
to a subordinate part of his or her own authority to make decisions.

Delegation is necessary because:
1. Managers have limited workload capacity.
2. Managers need to be free for higher-level tasks.
3. Delegation can enhance employee satisfaction, flexibility, responsiveness to customers.

Notes The process of delegation involves certain steps like:
1. Specify task object, constraints, targets and standards: check understanding.

2. Formally assign responsibilities, specifying scope and area of authority: gain
agreement.
3. Allocate necessary resources (including help when requested): then back off!
4. Maintain supportive contact: review and feedback according to agreed schedule.

6.1.2 Features of Delegation

A manager alone cannot perform all the tasks assigned to him. In order to meet the targets, the
manager should delegate some tasks or duties to subordinates, since management means getting
work done through others. Delegation of Authority means division of authority and powers
downwards to the subordinate. Delegation is about entrusting someone else to do parts of your
job. Delegation of authority can be defined as subdivision and sub-allocation of powers to the
subordinates in order to achieve effective results. Some of the important features of delegation
may be listed thus:
1. A co-operative relationship: Delegation is a co-operative relationship. It is a demanding
function; it requires sacrifices from both, the delegator and the one to whom the
responsibitlity/task has been delegated to.
2. Act of mutual reliance: Delegation is an act of mutual reliance, an expression of dependence
and trust on another person's abilities. This also involves an assumption on the part of the
one who is delegating the authority that the individual to whom duties have been delegated
possesses the necessary skill and strength to be able to discharge those tasks or duties.

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