"The manager shall still be accountable for the performance of the assigned tasks." This statement signifies:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Delegation does not mean abdication
Option (1) Delegation flows downwards — Incorrect. Authority does flow downwards from superior to subordinate, but the statement is about the manager remaining answerable, not about the direction of authority.
Option (2) Accountability can be delegated. — Incorrect. The statement says the opposite. Accountability, being answerable for the final result, cannot be delegated at all.
Option (3) Delegation does not mean abdication — Correct. To abdicate is to give up one’s duty completely. When a manager delegates, he passes on authority to a subordinate, but he does not give up his own duty. He is still answerable for how the task is done, and he can take the authority back.
Option (4) Accountability flows upwards. — Incorrect. This is true, since a subordinate is answerable to his superior. But the statement speaks of the manager himself remaining accountable after delegating, which is the idea of Option (3).
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Delegation … Delegation helps a manager to extend his area of operations as without it, his activities would be restricted to only what he himself can do. However, delegation does not mean abdication. The manager shall still be accountable for the performance of the assigned tasks. Moreover, the authority granted to a subordinate can be taken back and redelegated to another person. …” |