Advantages and Disadvantages of Delegation of Authority
Authority delegation is a management tool by which managers divide their work and authority among subordinates.
The following are the main points that justify the advantages and disadvantages of authority delegation.
Advantages of Delegation of Authority
The pros of delegation of authority in the organization are:
Reduces Manager’s Workload
Delegation of authority reduces the workload of managers.
Through delegation, managers divide the tasks among subordinates along with the necessary authority.
Thus, managers’ workloads are reduced; however, they should be accountable for the results of the activities they perform.
Increases Organizational Efficiency
Effective delegation ensures the assignment of the right duty and authority to the right subordinates.
Subordinates are given the necessary authority and responsibility to execute the task effectively.
This increases the speed of decision-making, and more jobs will be accomplished within a limited time.
Employee Motivation
Authority delegation also benefits employee motivation.
When employees are granted the authority of their superiors, they feel a sense of status and prestige.
This motivates employees and increases their morale. Such motivation encourages employees to give their best efforts.
Employee’s Skills Development
Through authority delegation, employees also learn new skills that are supportive of their career development.
When they have delegated authority, they act as the manager and get a chance to show their skills and talents.
In the process, they learn new skills such as leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, group discussion, etc. which are helpful for their future career growth.
Facilitates Organizational Growth
Authority delegation lets subordinates make decisions on their responsibility within authority which enables quicker decisions.
Since employees are closer to the reality of the situation instant decisions can be made when the opportunities arise.
Through this, more practical decisions can be made and top managers will have more time to discuss business expansion, diversification, and future activities of the organization.
Suitable for Large Organizations
The practice of delegation of authority is suitable for large organizations having different departments and various organizational activities.
In such organizations, delegation simplifies the work structure and facilitates the timely completion of tasks.
Related: Importance of Delegation
Disadvantages of Delegation of Authority
Despite its many advantages, the delegation of authority does also have some drawbacks.
Some cons of delegation of authority can be pointed out below:
Skills Required
For effective delegation of authority, the necessary skill is required from both the authority delegator and the authority receiver.
Managers should have the necessary skills to effectively delegate authority to subordinates while subordinates should have the capacity to use the delegated authority as expected.
Reluctant to Delegate
Some managers are reluctant to delegate authority to the employees because of reasons like lack of directing ability, lack of trust in subordinates, authoritarian tendency, fear of subordinates, lack of assessment skills, etc.
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Reluctant to Accept
Some employees are also reluctant to accept the delegated authority by their superiors because of a lack of self-confidence, lack of proper training on its importance, fear of criticism, lack of extra incentives, etc.
Misuse of Power
For an appropriate delegation, a perfect balance between authority and responsibility is crucial.
However, when authority is granted to subordinates, there is a chance of misuse of authority by subordinates for personal benefit.
This mainly happens, when the responsibility is less and authority is more than required.
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Sajan Kushmi is a content writer with more than 4 years of experience. He holds BIM Degree. He write on the topics related to Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship.
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