Authority and Responsibility

Another one of the principles of administration, authority and responsibility go together for everyone involved in administration.

Authority refers to the powers that a person holds in their organization. This includes the right to command and require obedience. Responsibility refers to the limits on a person’s powers in an organization. This includes the obligation to follow through on tasks assigned to them and those they have delegated to others.

One cannot have authority without responsibility.

Authority

Sources of Authority

Legitimate Power Arises from the status quo and a cultural system of obligations of rights and duties and based on the acceptance of the people
Coercive Power Derived from a person’s ability to instill fear among people and the expectation that punishment will be handed down to those who do not obey
Reward Power Opposite to coercive power, reward power is based on the ability of some people to hand out rewards and prizes
Expert Power Based on a person’s knowledge, skills, and expertise in certain fields. Since superiors possess these capabilities, subordinates desire and fulfill their direction.
Referent Power Derived from the recognition of a person’s faith as a leader who is held in high esteem, admiration, and often imitation by the subordinate

Characteristics

It is the basis of getting things done.
People who have authority has the right to influence the behavior of others in an organization with the performance of certain activities to meet defined objectives.
Legitimacy
Authority is accepted because it holds some validity.
Decision-Making
People in authority have the right to decide on organizational matters
Subjectivity in Implementation
Authority is significantly influenced by subjective factors such as the personality of the manager and the environment in which the authority is being exercised.

In general, people in authority are granted the following:

decision-making powers
control over resources
ability to delegate tasks
the power to enforce rules and regulations
the ability to hire, fire, or discipline employees
the ability to sign legal documents
the power to negotiate contracts
the ability to make policy changes

Responsibility

As previously mentioned, responsibility, in the context of authority and responsibility, is the limitation on someone’s organizational powers.

Defined by itself, responsibility refers to one’s obligation to complete assigned tasks or perform assigned duties. Responsibility, unlike authority, cannot be delegated. One is accountable for ones tasks and duties. Additionally, it flows from top to bottom in any organization and it can be qualitative or quantitative in nature.

Forms of Responsibility

Operating Responsibility Refers to an individual’s responsibility to carry out assigned tasks
Ultimate Responsibility Refers to the obligation of the manager who ensures that the work is done efficiently by the members of the team

In general, people in authority hold the following responsibilities:

accountability for the outcomes of decisions made
oversight of the performance of subordinates
compliance with laws and regulations
use of resources
maintaining the health and safety of employees and customers
meeting financial targets and objectives
maintaining the reputation and public image of the organization
protecting confidential and sensitive information