The correct answer is: A. Barnard
Chester I. Barnard defined authority as “the right to act in a given way”. He argued that authority is not something that is given to someone by a higher authority, but rather something that is granted by subordinates. In other words, authority is based on the willingness of subordinates to follow the orders of their superiors.
Fayol, Strong, and Allen all defined authority in different ways. Fayol defined authority as “the right to give orders and the power to exact obedience”. Strong defined authority as “the power to influence the actions of others”. Allen defined authority as “the power to make decisions and to take action”.
Barnard’s definition of authority is the most widely accepted definition. It is based on the idea that authority is based on the willingness of subordinates to follow the orders of their superiors. This definition is consistent with the way that authority is actually exercised in organizations.
Fayol’s definition of authority is more authoritarian. It is based on the idea that authority is something that is given to someone by a higher authority. This definition is not as widely accepted as Barnard’s definition.
Strong’s definition of authority is more psychological. It is based on the idea that authority is based on the power to influence the actions of others. This definition is not as widely accepted as Barnard’s definition.
Allen’s definition of authority is more legalistic. It is based on the idea that authority is the power to make decisions and to take action. This definition is not as widely accepted as Barnard’s definition.