Concepts:- Power, Authority, Responsibility and Delegation

Power

Power, in the context of politics, can be defined as the ability to get others to do things even when they might not want to. Power can operate through Persuasion, so that people cooperate willingly and freely, on the basis of reasons they accept (which may include incentives that are offered for cooperation); or through coercion – the use of threats, sanctions, and force.

States have power, in the end, because they can make laws. And laws are enforced by the police, again in the end, by the use of force. If you don‘t obey the law, at some point, you will be fined or jailed or worse. However, we want to be able to make a distinction between cases in which it is right that the state has power, and cases in which it is wrong or objectionable in some way. To make this distinction, we need the concepts of ‗authority‘ and ‗legitimacy‘.

Authority

Authority is a much more complex concept, and we need to make distinctions between several different ideas of authority.

A first sense of authority is theoretical authority or expertise. This is the sense in which a person can be ‗an authority‘, an expert, on a particular topic. We ask the advice of theoretical experts, as they can give us reasons for what to believe – for instance, whether whales are fish – but also for what to do – for example, an engineer knows how to build a bridge that won‘t collapse.

Our interest is in the second sense of authority, practical authority. This is the sense in which a person can be an ‗authority figure‘. An authority can get us to act in particular ways, because they have power. However, just having power is not enough to also having authority.

There are two senses of practical authority. In the descriptive sense of practical authority, a state has authority if it maintains public order and makes laws that are generally obeyed by its citizens. It has the power to make and impose laws successfully. Authority goes beyond power because it can secure public order, which depends in part, on people respecting the law. Contrast with this a state in which many people break the law, but the state still has a police force that punishes some of the law-breakers. In this case, in which citizens and the state are in conflict, the state no longer has authority.

In the normative sense, a state has practical authority if its authority in the descriptive sense is legitimate (‗normative‘ means relating to ‗norms‘, rules or reasons for conduct. In this case, it means that the practical authority is right, justified, supported by good reasons).

Legitimacy

So in addition to whether a state has authority, in the sense that people obey its laws, we can ask whether it has legitimacy. The term legitimate comes from the Latin for lawful‘. In the most basic sense, a state is legitimate if it exists and operates according to the law. But this definition is too shallow: if a country has no laws about how a government can come to power, then no matter how the government came to power, it will be legitimate. Or again, if a government is elected lawfully, but then changes the laws to create a police state ruled by a Dictatorship, the dictatorship will be legitimate. But this is not what we mean by a legitimate government.

If a government is legitimate, then in some way, the fact that it has power is right or justified. If it is right it has power, then we can argue that we ought to obey it. If it is objectionable that it has power, then we don‘t have an obligation to obey it.

We can object that this definition does not require that the people over which the government has authority willingly obey it. A state could have legitimate authority in this sense without those under its rule recognising its authority as legitimate. Second,

it does not claim that the people have a duty to obey the state. It only requires thatthe exercise of power is morally justified.

If we add these conditions, we can say that the state is legitimate if it can impose duties on the people under it. To impose a duty is not the same as forcing someone to do something. To impose a duty is to put them in a position where they have an obligation to do something, in this case, to obey the law.

The definition does not specify who the imposed duties are owed to. There are two possible answers: we owe it to the state to obey the law, or we owe it to our fellow citizens. Which is the better answer? If we consider the state of nature story, at the point at which we Consent to obey the law, who do we agree this with? Not with the state, because the state doesn‘t exist yet. The state is created through our agreement.

So we agree it with other people. Our obligation to obey the law is therefore owed to other citizens. This reflects the idea that we are equal; our obligation is not to something that has power over us, but to other people, and it is all of us – not the state – that will benefit from the agreement.

Delegation

Delegation is the act of assigning formal authority and responsibility to the subordin ate to carry out specific activity. The more tasks the manager delegate the more opportunity they have to seek higher responsibilities. Delegation cause employee to accept accountability and exercise judgment. Delegation not only helps to train them but al so improves their self confidence and willingness to take initiative. Delegation leads to better DECISION MAKING as employee have clear view of the fact. Effective delegation n speeds up decision making process because delay is eliminated when employee is authorized to take necessary steps.

Prerequisite of delegation:

Willingness of manager –

Give employee freedom ,Let them choose methods that is different than his ,Give fre edom to make mistakes ,Mistakes are not viewed as excuse to stop delegation & Opportunity to offer training

Open Communication between employee and manager –

Manager need to know the capabilities of employee?

,Manager need to encourage their ability and back them up

Manager‘s ability to analyze and understand the factors

Organizational goal

Capability of employee

?Task‘s requirements

Steps of delegation:

Decide Which task can be delegated:

 Many items should be delegated

 First, minor decisions and recurring chores

 Demanding jobs and challenging tasks to capable one

Decide who should get the assignment:

 Who have available time

 For whom it would be a useful developmental exercise

 Who have special skill

Provide sufficient resource to carry out delegated tasks:

 Financial Resources

 Staff resources

 Time resources

Delegating the assignment:

 Provide all relevant information about task

 Specify expected result

 Cultivate a Climate of open communication

Be prepared to run interference if necessary:

 Resources may be insufficient

 Person may run up against resistance of others

Establish a feedback system:

 Establish checkpoints and feedback system

 Design feedback system carefully

 Tighter the control less actual delegation will take place,

Power is the ability to influence others to do what you want them to do. It can be based on a number of factors, including position, expertise, or Personality.

There are five main types of power:

Legitimate power is based on the position someone holds. For example, a manager has legitimate power over their employees because they have been given authority by the organization.
Reward power is based on the ability to give or withhold rewards. For example, a manager may have reward power if they can give their employees raises or promotions.
Coercive power is based on the ability to punish or threaten to punish. For example, a manager may have coercive power if they can fire their employees.
Expert power is based on knowledge or expertise. For example, a doctor may have expert power over their patients because they have more knowledge about medicine.
Referent power is based on admiration or respect. For example, a celebrity may have referent power over their fans because they are admired and respected.

Authority is the right to give orders and expect them to be obeyed. It can be based on power, but it can also be based on other factors, such as expertise or experience.

There are two main types of authority:

Formal authority is based on the position someone holds. For example, a manager has formal authority over their employees because they have been given authority by the organization.
Informal authority is based on personal characteristics, such as expertise or experience. For example, a doctor may have informal authority over their patients because they are respected for their knowledge and experience.

Responsibility is the obligation to do something or to take care of something. It can be assigned or assumed.

Assigned responsibility is responsibility that is given to someone by someone else. For example, a manager may assign responsibility to their employees to complete a project.
Assumed responsibility is responsibility that someone takes on themselves. For example, a parent may assume responsibility for their child’s Education.

Accountability is the obligation to answer for one’s actions. It is closely related to responsibility, but it is not the same thing.

Individual accountability is accountability that is held by an individual. For example, a manager is individually accountable for the performance of their team.
Collective accountability is accountability that is held by a group. For example, a team is collectively accountable for the completion of a project.

Liability is the legal responsibility for something. It can be civil or criminal.

Civil liability is the legal responsibility to pay damages for harm that has been caused. For example, a company may be held civilly liable if their product causes someone to be injured.
Criminal liability is the legal responsibility to be punished for a crime. For example, a person may be held criminally liable if they commit murder.

Delegation is the process of giving someone else the authority to do something on your behalf. It can be a powerful tool for managers, but it is important to delegate wisely.

Delegating tasks is the process of giving someone else the responsibility to complete a specific task. For example, a manager may delegate the task of creating a budget to their assistant.
Delegating authority is the process of giving someone else the power to make decisions on your behalf. For example, a manager may delegate the authority to hire new employees to their HR department.
Delegating responsibility is the process of giving someone else the obligation to answer for the results of their actions. For example, a manager may delegate responsibility for the performance of their team to their team members.

Delegation can be a powerful tool for managers, but it is important to delegate wisely. When delegating, it is important to consider the following factors:

The task or responsibility. What is the task or responsibility that you are delegating?
The person you are delegating to. Who is the person you are delegating to? Do they have the skills and experience necessary to complete the task or responsibility?
The level of authority. How much authority are you willing to delegate?
The level of responsibility. How much responsibility are you willing to delegate?
The level of accountability. How much accountability are you willing to delegate?

Delegation can be a great way to free up your time and to empower your employees. However, it is important to delegate wisely and to set clear expectations.

Power

What is power?
Power is the ability to influence others to do what you want them to do.
What are the different types of power?
There are two main types of power: formal power and informal power. Formal power is based on the position you hold in an organization, while informal power is based on your personal characteristics, such as charisma or expertise.
How can you increase your power?
There are a few things you can do to increase your power:
- Build relationships with people who have power.
- Develop expertise in your field.
- Be assertive and confident.
- Be willing to take risks.

Authority

What is authority?
Authority is the right to give orders and expect them to be obeyed.
What are the different types of authority?
There are two main types of authority: legitimate authority and coercive authority. Legitimate authority is based on the belief that the person in power has the right to give orders, while coercive authority is based on the use of force or threats.
How can you increase your authority?
There are a few things you can do to increase your authority:
- Be clear about your expectations.
- Be consistent in your enforcement of rules.
- Be fair and impartial.
- Be willing to listen to feedback.

Responsibility

What is responsibility?
Responsibility is the obligation to do something or to be accountable for something.
What are the different types of responsibility?
There are two main types of responsibility: personal responsibility and professional responsibility. Personal responsibility is the obligation to take care of yourself and your belongings, while professional responsibility is the obligation to do your job well and to uphold the standards of your profession.
How can you increase your responsibility?
There are a few things you can do to increase your responsibility:
- Set goals for yourself.
- Take on new challenges.
- Be accountable for your actions.
- Learn from your mistakes.

Delegation

What is delegation?
Delegation is the act of assigning tasks to others.
What are the benefits of delegation?
Delegation can help you to:
- Free up your time.
- Develop the skills of others.
- Build trust and cooperation.
- Improve morale.
What are the challenges of delegation?
Delegation can be challenging if you:
- Don’t trust others to do the job right.
- Are afraid of losing control.
- Don’t know how to delegate effectively.
- Don’t have the time to train others.
How can you delegate effectively?
There are a few things you can do to delegate effectively:
- Choose the right person for the job.
- Be clear about your expectations.
- Provide the necessary resources.
- Give feedback and support.
- Hold people accountable.

A person who has the ability to influence others is said to have:
(a) Power
(b) Authority
(c) Responsibility
(d) Delegation
The right to give orders and expect them to be obeyed is called:
(a) Power
(b) Authority
(c) Responsibility
(d) Delegation
The obligation to carry out assigned duties is called:
(a) Power
(b) Authority
(c) Responsibility
(d) Delegation
The process of assigning tasks to others is called:
(a) Power
(b) Authority
(c) Responsibility
(d) Delegation
Which of the following is not a characteristic of power?
(a) It can be used for good or evil.
(b) It can be based on position, personality, or expertise.
(c) It can be used to influence others to do what you want.
(d) It is always based on force or coercion.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of authority?
(a) It is granted by an organization or institution.
(b) It is associated with a position or role.
(c) It can be used to give orders and expect them to be obeyed.
(d) It is always based on force or coercion.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of responsibility?
(a) It is the obligation to carry out assigned duties.
(b) It can be delegated to others.
(c) It can be assigned by an organization or institution.
(d) It is always based on force or coercion.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of delegation?
(a) It is the process of assigning tasks to others.
(b) It can be used to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
(c) It can be used to develop the skills of others.
(d) It is always based on force or coercion.
Which of the following is an example of power?
(a) A police officer giving a speeding ticket.
(b) A parent telling their child to clean their room.
(c) A teacher giving a student a failing grade.
(d) A manager giving an employee a raise.
Which of the following is an example of authority?
(a) A judge sentencing a criminal.
(b) A doctor prescribing medication.
(c) A president signing a bill into law.
(d) A CEO giving an order to their employees.
Which of the following is an example of responsibility?
(a) A student being responsible for their own Learning.
(b) A parent being responsible for their child’s well-being.
(c) A manager being responsible for the performance of their team.
(d) A CEO being responsible for the success of their company.
Which of the following is an example of delegation?
(a) A manager delegating a task to an employee.
(b) A parent delegating a chore to their child.
(c) A teacher delegating a project to a student.
(d) A CEO delegating a task to a member of their team.