Question
“Authority can be delegated but responsibility cannot'.Explain.
Solution
Authority means the power to take decision. This has to be delegated to the person to whom work is assigned. It means authority can be delegated.
There are two meanings of ‘Responsibility’, i.e.. Responsibility for and Responsibility to. (The ‘Responsibility to’ is also known as Accountability). The ‘Responsibility for’ can be delegated but ‘Responsibility to’ is absolute and can never be delegated. In the statement given in the question, the meaning of responsibility is ‘responsibility to’ that cannot be delegated. It means the person who delegates authority remains accountable to his own boss for the work performance of his subordinate.
