Which of the following pairs of an element of delegation and its feat…

The correct answer is Option (2) → Responsibility – Cannot be entirely delegated

Option (1) Authority – Arises from responsibility — Incorrect. Authority arises from formal position. It is accountability that arises from responsibility.

Option (2) Responsibility – Cannot be entirely delegated — Correct. Responsibility is the obligation to perform an assigned task. A manager can share the work with a subordinate, but he cannot pass on the whole of his obligation. So responsibility cannot be entirely delegated.

Option (3) Accountability – Arises from formal position — Incorrect. Accountability arises from responsibility. It is authority that arises from formal position.

Option (4) Accountability – Flows downward from superior to subordinate — Incorrect. Accountability flows upward, from subordinate to superior. It is authority that flows downward.

Note: The small ‘Overview of the elements of delegation’ table sums up a whole topic in a dozen cells. Learn it cell by cell, because a question can sit in any one of them.