Which process involves giving others some authority and responsibility to perform tasks lower in the chain of command?

• A. Delegation of Authority
• B. Centralization
• C. Decentralization
• D. Empowerment

Answer: (A)

Delegation of authority is the process of transferring both the authority to decide and the responsibility to complete a task from a manager to a subordinate, allowing them to act within defined limits lower in the chain of command. The manager still holds accountability for the results, but the subordinate has the power to carry out the task and make related decisions.

This fits the scenario because it explicitly describes granting others the right to perform tasks that were previously held at a higher level. Centralization pushes decision power upward toward the top and doesn’t involve assigning task-specific authority downward. Decentralization distributes decision-making further down the organization but isn’t solely about handing off specific tasks. Empowerment broadens an employee’s overall autonomy and decision rights, often beyond a single task, rather than focusing on the formal transfer of authority for a particular assignment.