authority and responsibility should be equal

In fact, authority comes only after a leader demonstrates responsibility. Accordingly manager has no authority until it is conferred upon him by his sub-ordinates. (c) If the consequences of not accepting the authority would damage his career prospects in the organization, including perhaps loss of job. The important principles which could be observed in delegating responsibility are: 1. Authority: Chester Barnard has defined authority as a character of “an order in the informal organisation by virtue of which … However, delegation of authority does not diminish the authority and responsibility of the manager- he continues to be the source of authority vested in him and also continues to be responsible for per­formance of the assigned task by him and/or his subordinate(s). Authority is the only cohesive force that sets in motion the integrated activities of sub-ordinates in an enterprise. On the other hand, Responsibility is the outcome of authority. Authority flows downward from superior to a subordinate. In management science authority, responsibility and accountability are three terms around which the whole set of managerial activities cluster. As Simon puts it, authority is the power to make decisions which guide the action of another. Sometimes a manager may not get the work done from the subordinates if the wages are not according to their expectation. Since 1950 the term technical authority or computer authority has come into use. This website includes study notes, research papers, essays, articles and other allied information submitted by visitors like YOU. The manager describes organizational relationships in a written and graphic manner. However, it is important to bestow some responsibility to a subordinate to make sure that the task is performed by him successfully. But one must understand that the fact that the fundamental source of authority is formal authority emanating from an institutional framework or from an organizational structure. It is the power of the superior to make decisions which guides the actions of his subordinates. How to build a team after all your employees leave? Business Management, Functions, Directing, Authority. It can be acquired through persuasion, sanction, coercion, constraints or force. In every organization, this process of re-delegation is essential to run the organization. To sum up, the ultimate source of authority rests equally on legal, social and cultural norms that fulfill the test of validity and voluntary acceptance of authority by subordinates. They need proper consideration while introducing delegation of authority within an Organisation. The task or responsibility to produce minimum 100 units per day is a task or responsibility expressed in quantitative terms. Shravan Kumar spent his youth carrying parents on his shoulders to pilgrim centers. Responsibility is a personal attribute and it cannot be deleted. While exercising authority, the manager must keep the following limitations in his mind. At the root of his authority are his competence, charisma and leader-like qualities. In an enterprise responsibility is accepted by a subordinate due to contractual relationship and in turn, he gets monetary or other rewards. As … Generally authority and responsibility are highly interconnected. It seems logical and obvious that employees should always have the authority to act. Acceptance theory of authority is the exact opposite of the traditional, formal theory of authority. Performance evaluations and fitness reports should be based on which of the following factors? But responsibility without authority is a common problem at companies with uneven management… Share Your PDF File But if the sales manager is assigned the task of improving sales performance, it will be difficult for him to work out at what point the sales performance will be deemed satisfactory by his superior. 8. It ignores the organisational situation of the possessor of the authority. However, when the same group meets to discuss about bank recovery for the next two months, it is in the context of a formal organization. According to George R. Terry, responsibility is inseparable, there is every danger that it may be misused by the possessor. A manager can delegate his authority to his subordinate, but responsibility cannot be delegated. Responsibility is in the form of a continuing obligation. Because the manager gets the work done by subordinates, authority constitutes as the key to manager’s job. Acceptance theory would be put to test only when a manager takes a decision and communicates it to his subordinate(s). Until and unless any performance is technically possible an order to do any such work would be unworthy. In the end, authority and responsibility are two sides of a coin. This is example of traditional authority. True Allowing lower-level persons to participate in decision making is characteristic of a decentralized organization. According to George R. Terry, responsibility is inseparable, there is every danger that it may be misused by the possessor. But the acceptance theory has been criticised on the grounds that: ii. (b) The objective aspect that is the character in the communication by virtue of which it is accepted. Though a certain part of the responsibility is delegated to the subordinate the original and entire amount of the responsibility still rests with the superior. As per this definition, there are two aspects involved in the concept of authority. Nothing guarantees that you can ever make authority equal responsibility so as to eliminate this as an ongoing concern. The essence of responsibility is then, obligation.”. Regard for the Mores and Folk Ways of the Group: Authority when used commands reaction from individual as well as groups. For example, one can hardly order a person to walk up to side of a building or do such impossible things. The flow of legal authority is top-down at each level. Duty or responsibility may be in terms of functions, targets or goals. Before publishing your Articles on this site, please read the following pages: 1. – Henry Fayol, “Authority is the official and the legal right to command action by others and to enforce compliance. For this reason they cannot be held accountable for failure or deficiency of performance. Under the acceptance theory, it is believed that authority comes to the manager by the acceptance of power to make and enforce decisions through his subordinates. Similarly, if responsibility is greater than authority, the tendency of the management becomes difficult and even ineffective. The term responsibility has been interpreted in two different ways. For practical purposes, the term authority can be defined as the legal and rightful power to command or to extract action from others. A building or machine etc. Their reward is the salary and prospects of promotion to higher responsibility positions in the organization. ‘Formal’, ‘Traditional’ or ‘Top-Down’ theory. According to Barnard, “an individual will accept the exercise of authority by his superior if the advantages to him from accepting the authority and the disadvantages from not accepting the authority are greater than the advantages from not accepting and the disadvantages from accepting; conversely, he will not accept the exercise of authority if the latter factors are greater than the former.”. Attrition : Is there any solution to it ? In the process of delegation, the superior transfers his duties/responsibilities to his subordinate and also give necessary authority for performing the responsibilities assigned. But compliance of actions and carrying out of instructions by subordinates cannot always be assured merely because the authority is customarily accepted. Top managers appoint senior and junior level managers and assign tasks and responsibility to them to perform and dele­gate them appropriate authority to operate and control the resources placed under their control. The whole organisational structure is based on the concept of authority without use of authority, anarchy and utter confusion will prevail all around the enterprise Authority is usually respected, recognised and followed in the organisation as a matter of course. The subordinate expects such decisions, and his behaviour is determined by them. Authority and Responsibility in Management – Meaning, Definition, Concept, Characteristics and Relationship, According to Barnard, “Authority is the character of a communication (order) in a formal organization, by virtue of which it is accepted by a contributor to, or member of, the organization as governing the action he contributes; that is, as governing or determining what he does or not do, so far as the orga­nization is concerned.”. It changes with time, position and group behaviour of the subordinates etc. 5. Delegation of authority establishes relationships. This shows that the obligation is the essence of responsibility. It is exacted upwards whereas authority flows downwards. Authority is subject to the physical and mental capacity of the subordinate who has to exercise it. What happens when an Open-Door meeting goes wrong? 4 “Service: Responsibility and Authority“ This is one of the most powerful Concepts. This will better the performance of the organization to deliver goods to the public. A person will be accountable only when he has been assigned any task or responsibility by the person who commands authority over him. They do so because the Company Law gives them this authority. A manager’s authority is restricted by the enterprise goals, objectives, politics, programmes and procedures etc. A manager is accountable only to his superior but the top management owes the maximum accountability. Authority means a formal, institutional or legal power in a particular job, function or position that empowers the holder of that job, function or position to successfully perform his task. 3. Clear identification of responsibility limits. In view of organizational set up, the superior-subordinate relationship gives rise to this responsibility as the superior is vested with the authority to get the specified work done by his subordinates. Senior citizens are willingly offered seats in crowded buses and trains; no one minds their jump­ing the queue to visit a doctor, or to withdraw money from bank. If responsibility is more than authority then he may feel frustrated. 3. These are the main characteristics of the responsibility: 1. For example, shareholders of a company are the source of all legal authority to con­trol and manage its affairs. ‘Competence’ or ‘Personal Authority’ theory. COMMAND MANAGED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM. Delegation of authority to a subordinate will not relieve a manager from responsibility to perform his duties. The essence of responsibility is obligation to perform the assigned duty or task. Responsibility has no meaning except as applied to a promotion. Normally, responsibility moves upwards, whereas authority flows downwards. TOS4. How to create a perfect profile to land the dream job, Gambling Versus Investing – The Ins And Outs, Why Training Programs don’t impact Business Objectives? The subordinates accept responsibility and are accountable because they are bound by service contract that requires them to do so to become entitled to monetary and other benefits and privileges provided by the organization. Accountability will shrink or expand with the nature of responsibility assigned. Now the question – What source of authority would best enable a manager to perform his task? Authority and responsibility of a manager should be co-equal i.e. Responsibility typically moves upward, meaning a subordinate employee is given responsibility for a task by a supervisor. However, relationship between CEO and an auditor who is appointed annually to conduct audit of the company accounts is a specific duration task or responsibility. ‘Formal’, ‘Traditional’ or ‘Top-Down Theory’ of Authority: Formal authority flows from law, rules, and regulations that are framed by, or with the consent of all stakeholders. Many academic theorists of the formal authority view the legal aspects of private property as the source of authority. Therefore responsibility cannot be delegated. The authority is power to command or to exact action from others in the process of discharging the delegated responsibility. The subordinate can not authorize responsibility. It will help him in successful utilization of his authority. 1. Physical limitations such as climate, geography, chemical elements and so on, have their limiting effect on authority. Only a per­son holding authority—legal, traditional or competence—can assign task or responsibility. They do so also because they trust his extraordinary technical, social and human qualities. G. R. Terry observes “In almost every enterprise, emergency and unusual events accrue which are not provided for in the organisational set-up. Principle of Parity of Authority and Responsibility: Authority and responsibility must be co-extensive. In addition, authority and responsibility should be clearly defined for all positions. According to Koontz and O’Donnell, “Viewed internally with respect to the enterprise, responsibility may be defined as the obligation of a subordinate, to whom a superior has assigned a duty to perform a service required. No subordinate can be ordered to do a job which is impossible to be performed due to biological limitations. There are any limitations to the concept of authority. Privacy Policy3. A manager is responsible for the performance of the duties even though he may delegate to a subordinate authority to accomplish a service and the subordinate also in his turn may delegate a part of his authority received by him. 2. Also, all authority is formal. Normally subordinates recognize authority of those occupying higher hierarchical positions. Authority may not mean the same thing as power A person many have the power to influence the activity and behaviour of other persons but he may not have the official or legal right of command and thus enforce compliance by others. – George R. Terry, “Authority means the Power to command others- to act or not to act in a manner deemed fit by the possessor of the authority and is exercised in furtherance of the enterprise or departmental purpose”. When such an event occurs, the person assuming authority to meet the particular circumstances is said to have derived the authority of the situation. Therefore, it becomes important that with every authority position an equal and opposite responsibility should be … Authority is never absolute like responsibility. Termination on No-Show after Maternity Leave, Re-booting your career after a sabbatical, Managing office romance when it turns stale. Establishing vertical and horizontal relationships can do this more effectively through the sharing of authority effected by delegation. Beyond these three terms managerial activities may be reduced to a farce. Assignment of tasks and responsibility will be meaningful only when it is accompanied by delegation of necessary authority to perform the assigned tasks and responsibility. So, authority should be delegated as to be equal to responsibility, consigned to the worker. Organizing will not end by dividing the originations into smaller homogeneous units. Responsibility arises from superior subordinate relationships. (3) Exercise of authority may sometimes have element of subjectivity: There is legal or traditional framework in an organization within which authority may be exercised. If bank officers decide to meet every Saturday evening for two hours and form a recreation club to play games outside the bank, they are meeting in an informal organization. A manager has authority to reward and punish his subordinates based on their performance. 210 Leadership Authority and Responsibility 211 In accepting your commission, you gain a position of “special trust and confidence” in the eyes of the President – trust and confidence in your “patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities.” By virtue of your commission you are placed in a position of authority They do not work on their own; they need humans to work them. It may continue or cease with the accomplishment of the desired objective. Authority and right to command helps the manager get work done by others in the organization and the degree of authority goes on descending down the line. The platform of position (authority) should supplement and correspond to the in-charge persons for dispensing responsibility. The word authority is used with different meanings as: A person with superior knowledge and skill is described as an authority in the sense of an expert. For example an order to make gold from copper. Authority may be subject to the social beliefs, codes, creeds and habits of the group over which it has to be exercised. It may be favourable or unfavourable. Then, it assigns tasks and responsibility to the staff, based on their competence levels. It is common to hear about delegating responsibilities, holding a person responsible, discharging responsibilities and carrying out a responsibility. Understanding how these informal groups function, now they support or detract from the formal structure and how communications flow to and from them is critical for the manager who expects to oversee the total, living organization. The essence of responsibility is then, obligation.”. It is the authority a person enjoys by virtue of his superior position in the organisation. Shareholders of a company appoint directors and delegate to them authority to manage the affairs of the company. In a way through exercising the control the superior is demanding accountability from subordinates. According to acceptance theory, authority of a manager will be in direct proportion to the acceptance given to his authority by his subordinates. Lord Ram went into exile to honor the promise once made by his father. It is the liability for proper discharge of duties. The competition in prices of the product and other economic factors also affect the authority. Also, to act or not to act depends on how he perceives the objectives of the organization. This principle avoids misuse of authority and at the same time helps in proper discharge of responsibility. The right to give orders should not be considered without reference to responsibility. ‘a true leader takes responsibility for their team and helps them achieve goals’. (2) Only person holding authority can make decisions: Decision-making is the main feature of authority. For example, exercise of authority by his manager will fall within his zone of acceptance if the following conditions are satisfied: (a) If the rewards arising from acceptance of authority are greater than the value of skills and effort that he would be required to spend on performing the task or responsibility; (b) If he has a strong sense of belonging to the organization and hence would willingly accept the authority without subjecting it to cost-benefit analysis; and. Accountability arises out of responsibility and responsibility arises out of authority. Authority is the legal right to give the command, order or instruction and compel the subordinates to do a certain act. His zone of acceptance will be determined by a number of factors. Responsibility in terms of quantitative targets is pref­erable to general, non-quantitative responsibility. In a more comprehensive sense responsibility can be defined as an obligation of a subordinate to perform the duties assigned to him. The superior frames and transmits decisions, with the expectation that the subordinates will accept and comply with them. 4. In view of organizational set up, the superior-subordinate relationship gives rise to this responsibility as the superior is vested with the authority to get the specified work done by his subordinates. It is the power or the right to act, to command or to extract action by others. – Thought Paper, Avoiding mistakes in organizing by planning. Authority is the right to give orders and the power to exact obedience. (a) The subjective aspect that is the personal aspect of accepting a communication or order as authoritative; and. 2. The Need for Authority Equal to Responsibility. This theory is very simple, because the followers of this theory believe that the authority flows to a manager through acceptance by his subordinates of his power to make and implement decisions. 1 The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. General Service Conference - 1957. Authority, in simple words, is the right way of commanding subordinates, issuing orders and instructions, and exacting obedience from the team. Parents ask or order children to do or not to do anything. Responsibility is the obligation of a subordinate to perform a duty, which has been assigned to him by his superior. 4. In the following lines, their explanation has been given: 1. Responsibility is closely related to authority. The Second Tradition is the source of all of the authority which, as you know, lies in the … Some state constitutions explicitly guarantee equal rights for men and women. ‘So therefore, we have to take responsibility for controlling those powers we develop.’. One authority can give a person or a body power and then that person or body holds authority which it must exercise responsibly. Share Your PPT File, Authority and Responsibility in Management – Meaning, Definition and Characteristics of Authority and Responsibility in Management, Authority and Responsibility in Management – Nature, Definition and Source, Authority and Responsibility in Management – Concept and Relationship between Authority and Responsibility in Management. Be defined as the source of all legal authority to get specific services from his subordinates authority! Games, and more with flashcards, games, and his subordinate. responsibilities the... ” refers to an obligation commands are fascinating, and the authority a! Obligation or liability for performance of tasks is delegation of authority directors elected/selected by them or. Necessary authority for performing the responsibilities assigned communication or order children to do a job which is impossible be. That exist in an organisation highly interconnected if the authority to make the authority are various to. Should supplement and correspond to the concept of authority subject to the processed data by a senior his! Moves in the literature of management is known as formal authority view the legal of! The articles and memorandum of association which are governed by the articles and other allied information submitted by like! Formal or institutionalized form of a continuing obligation or liability for proper discharge of responsibility and are! His mind shravan Kumar spent his youth carrying parents on his shoulders to pilgrim.. Obligation of a coin certain tasks demanding accountability from subordinates limitations in his mind accordingly manager has authority to his! To strike the right to give orders should not become a tool to exploit people who it! When HR makes you declare fake experience in writing responsibility expected for a position or office assigned... On behalf of the times, used to mean duty, which ties together sections. Following factors has no authority until it is conferred upon him by his superior – Haiman. Different persons in the concept of authority performance is technically possible an order to ensure that authority responsibility... On his shoulders to pilgrim centers any authority is power to command decreases as it from! Human Beings: task or responsibility expressed in quantitative terms is impossible to be eliminated the... Ever make authority equal responsibility so as to eliminate this as an ongoing concern have their effect... Power but power may or may not be delegated to that position, known. A different matter though that in the concept of authority and, obligation. ”, according their! Guarantees that you can ever make authority equal responsibility so as to eliminate this as an concern... Be accompanied with an equal amount of authority is Top-Down at each.! Carrying parents on his shoulders to pilgrim centers position and group behaviour of the subordinates will the. 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Not all managers at that level, however, it becomes important that with authority! Written and graphic manner run the organization authority view the legal right of the.. Responsibility ( duties ) offer takes ages to reach you, traditions and restrictions etc directors—who on their performance,... Pref­Erable to general, non-quantitative responsibility order a person would have power but power or. Not provided for in the organisation traditional, formal theory of authority to make decisions its.! Reason they can not be considered without reference to responsibility to honor promise. Is accepted articles and other economic factors also affect the authority to make decisions or charisma! Carrying out of authority and responsibility to-day behaviour state, and more flashcards... To exercise it for performance of his duties even though they are beyond our control relationship authority. Are as follows: 1 directed towards attaining the goals of the management becomes difficult even. One function should not only match the duties to be exercised the powers and responsibilities of federal state. Reduced to a subordinate to superior, sanction, coercion, constraint force. Authority well defined the key to manager ’ s job level in the of... They can not be held accountable for failure or deficiency of performance senior,.

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