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Line/Staff Authority, Empowerment, and Decentralization

This document discusses concepts related to authority, empowerment, and decentralization in organizations. It defines key terms like line authority, staff authority, functional authority, empowerment, decentralization, and delegation. It also discusses the importance of obtaining balance between centralization and decentralization of authority. Maintaining the proper balance is the key to effective decentralization.

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159 views10 pages

Line/Staff Authority, Empowerment, and Decentralization

This document discusses concepts related to authority, empowerment, and decentralization in organizations. It defines key terms like line authority, staff authority, functional authority, empowerment, decentralization, and delegation. It also discusses the importance of obtaining balance between centralization and decentralization of authority. Maintaining the proper balance is the key to effective decentralization.

Uploaded by

shreya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Line/Staff Authority,

Chapter 9 Empowerment, and


Decentralization
• LO 1 Understand the nature of
authority, power, and empowerment

• LO 2 Distinguish between line, staff,


and functional authority
Learning • LO 3 Discuss the nature of
Objectives decentralization, centralization, and
delegation of authority

• LO 4 Recognize the importance of


obtaining balance in the centralization
and decentralization of authority
Authority and Power
• Power is the ability of individuals or groups to
induce or influence the beliefs or actions of
other persons or groups.

• Authority in organization is the right in a


position (and, through it, the right of the
person occupying the position) to exercise
discretion in making decisions affecting others.
Empowerment
• Empowerment means that employees,
managers, or teams at all levels in the
organization are given the power to make
decisions without asking their superiors for
permission.
Line/Staff Concepts and Functional
Authority
• Scalar principle
– The clearer the line of authority, the clearer will be the responsibility
for decision making and the more effective will be organizational
communication.

• Line authority
– Relationship in which a superior exercises direct supervision over a
subordinate.

• Functional authority
– Right delegated to an individual or a department to control specified
processes, practices, policies, or other matters relating to activities
undertaken by persons in other departments.
Decentralization of Authority
• The Nature of Decentralization
• Decentralization is the tendency to disperse
decision-making authority in an organized
structure.

Centralization and decentralization as tendencies


Delegation of Authority
• Authority is delegated when a superior gives a
subordinate discretion to make decisions.

• The process of delegation involves


– Determining the results expected from a position,
– Assigning tasks to the position,
– Delegating authority for accomplishing these tasks,
– Holding the person in that position responsible for
the accomplishment of the tasks.
The Art of Delegation
• Studies almost invariably find that poor or
inept delegation is one of the causes of
managerial failures.

• Much of the reason lies in personal attitudes


toward delegation.
Personal Attitudes toward Overcoming Weak Delegation
Delegation
Receptiveness
Willingness to Let Go
Willingness to Allow Mistakes by Subordinates
Willingness to Trust Subordinates
Willingness to Establish and Use Broad Controls
Recentralization of Authority and
Balance as the Key to Decentralization
• Recentralization is centralization of authority
that was once decentralized; normally not a
complete reversal of decentralization, as the
authority delegated is not wholly withdrawn.

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