Authority, Responsibility and Accountability

In general terms, Authority is all about power. Responsibility is the commitment to fulfilling work. Accountability refers to the Responsibility to answer for duty. These terms hold deep meaning and are equally vital in management. These terms showcase the basic etiquette of management. Without Authority, a manager cannot assign work to the staff and oblige them to do the work. This will lead to a mismanaged work structure with zero output. Without holding anyone accountable, an organization cannot function entirely. An individual requires to be answerable for any work. This piece is all about Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability and how Authority differs from Accountability and Responsibility.

Introduction:

It might seem easy to work in an organization but managing it? Well, that takes a lot more than just working on the tasks and submitting them on time. It needs three main factors so that an organization goes on smoothly. The three main factors that are needed to be followed are Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability. Without these three factors, it might have been a mess inside any organization.

These three factors are also important for the employee and the superior to complete their tasks. If these factors are not exercised well, the employee will slack out and not work on their tasks and hence leading to a pile of work in no time. Students will now get to understand all about the Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability – Explanation and Solved Examples through Vedantu while also being able to prepare for exams.

Authority

Definition of Authority in Business:

Authority is all about rights or powers with the managers which the organization empowers them for achieving a common organizational goal. Thus, it involves the power of assigning duties to workers and asking them to accept and pursue the assigned work. An organization can never stand without ethical assignment and detailing Authority. 

According to Henry Fayol, Authority is the power to give orders and garner obedience. Authority streams downwards as the board of directors provides it to executives and managers at various management levels.

Responsibility

According to McFarland, Responsibility is the duties or responsibilities allocated to a position or executive. Responsibility is the obligation that comes with a job. It simply means the person needs to commit to the job and complete it. It is their Responsibility to finish the task in a given time frame. Also, it shows that the Authority was well implemented and the task is completed accordingly. 

Beneath this, an individual is qualified to delegate the task to associates but not to definitive Accountability.  This means that even if the person has the power to transition the work, he/she will still be held responsible for the task. Responsibility flows from bottom to top and is in the form of constant obligation.

Accountability 

McFarland defines Accountability as, "the obligation of a person to register formally to their senior executives about the task to discharge the Responsibility." Accountability definition in management goes, "It is all about the liability created to handover the Authority". Accountability makes an individual answerable about the task or job he/she has done. 

Hence, it makes an employee answerable for the performance of the assigned work. An individual who has accepted Authority, he/she deems to approve Accountability and Responsibility at that time itself.

Authority, Responsibility and Accountability: Disparities

Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability are important parts of management and have distinct characteristics. However, there is a relation between these three terms but differs from each other in business terms.

Authority is the power delegated by senior executives to assign duties to all employees for better functioning. Responsibility is the commitment to fulfill a task given by an executive. Accountability makes a person answerable for his or her work based on their position, strength, and skills.

Responsibility is task-specific, every individual in a team can be responsible for an assigned task to complete a project. Accountability arises after an incident has happened regarding the work. It is the way to establish ownership of the results

Solved Examples

Q. What are the Key Differences Between Accountability and Responsibility?

Ans: Despite having many similarities, Accountability and Responsibility differ in management. Their distinct characteristics separate both in the business world.  Responsibility can be shared by many, you can work with a team to divide responsibilities. Whereas Accountability is specific to an employee or person based on their position, skill-set, and strength.

Even in bad times, true leaders stand by the results and own the whole incident.

Fun Facts

• Authority is delegated from senior executives to subordinates.

• Authority flows from top to bottom.

• Responsibility streams from bottom to top.

• Responsibility is swift whereas Authority is long-lasting.

Tips on How to be Accountable:

To be accountable the following tips must be considered:

1. Talk about the risks that are being noticed in the team. Assess the risks and check whether you are willing to accept these or change the strategies.

2. Take part in the decision-making process and check whether there are any details that you have skipped while forming the strategies.