Authority 

refers to accepted power—that is, power that people agree to follow.

People listen to authority figures because they feel that these individuals are worthy
of respect. Generally speaking, people perceive the objectives and demands of an
authority figure as reasonable and beneficial, or true.

A citizen’s interaction with a police officer is a good example of how people react to
authority in everyday life. For instance, a person who sees the flashing red and blue
lights of a police car in his rearview mirror usually pulls to the side of the road without
hesitation. Such a driver most likely assumes that the police officer behind him
serves as a legitimate source of authority and has the right to pull him over. As part
of her official duties, the police officer then has the power to issue a speeding ticket if
the driver was driving too fast. If the same officer, however, were to command the
driver to follow her home and mow her lawn, the driver would likely protest that the
officer does not have the authority to make such a request.

Not all authority figures are police officers, elected officials or government
authorities. Besides formal offices, authority can arise from tradition and personal
qualities. Economist and sociologist Max Weber realized this when he examined
individual action as it relates to authority, as well as large-scale structures of
authority and how they relate to a society’s economy. Based on this work, Weber
developed a classification system for authority. His three types of authority are
traditional authority, charismatic authority and legal-rational authority (Weber 1922).

1. What is authority and what are the types of authority?

Authority is the legitimate power that a person or a group of persons possess and practice over
other people . Authority can be broadly classified into 2 types “Centralised” and “Decentralised” .

2. Differentiate between centralization and decentralization?

Centralization in an organization involves decision-making capability in the hands of top

management . It is reservation of authority in central points , on the other hand Decentralization in
an organization involves decision-making capability through middle management or lower
management . In decentralisation the overall participation of members of an organisation in the
decision making process is higher when compared to centralisation . while centralisation is
reservation of authority , decentralisation is dispersion of authority .

3. Define delegation. Why is it important?

Delegation is the assignment of any authority to another person to carry out specific activities ,
delegation is a process that enables a person to assign a work to others and provide them with the
authority to do it .

Importance of delegation includes ;

Reduces managers workload , as the works are delegated to subordinates

With reduced load , superior can give importance to other critical issues

Delegation is the ground on which superior subordinate relationship stands

Delegation gives room for subordinates to establish their skills and talents

4. What are the factors that affect delegation?

Experience and personality of the delegation manager is a factor , whether a manager delegates his
work to his subordinates or not will be connected with the skills , trustworthiness , and other
qualities of the subordinate . Thus the manager's experience to assess these factors will affect
delegation .

Experience of the subordinate to whom the work is delegated is a factor as a subordinate with more
work experience in the given job might be able to perform better .

The importance of the task will be assessed to decide whether it is to be delegated and if so to
whom it should be delegated .

Situation

5. Explain the steps in the delegation process?

Task identification

Determining the expected result

selection of individual for delegation

Assigning duties , tasks

Granting authority

Creation of responsibility

Performance appraisal and monitoring

6. Why delegation fails and what are its consequences?

Everyone needs to be on the same page as to what is trying to be accomplished , only then
delegation works in the way it was intended to . Factors relating to delegating managers such as
confidence , love for authority , unwillingness and factors related to subordinates such as fear of
criticism , lack of confidence , lack of information can affect the results of delegation .

Consequences of failure of delegation include ;

Failure in achieving the task at hand

Creates frustration

Creates loss of reputation

Spoils superior subordinate relations

Affects the future decisions