Skip to content

ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Leadership, management and supervision

A sales manager delegates a pricing negotiation to a junior executive, tells her the outcome required but gives her no power to offer discounts. The executive repeatedly returns for approval and the deal is delayed. Which delegation principle has the manager breached?

The manager breached the principle that authority should match responsibility. The executive was made responsible for the negotiation but given no power to offer discounts, so she had to keep seeking approval, causing delay. Accountability cannot be wholly passed down, and seniority is not required.

  1. ASpan of control should be narrow
  2. BAuthority should be commensurate with the responsibility givenCorrect
  3. CAccountability should be passed entirely to the subordinate
  4. DTasks should only be delegated to the most senior staff

Explanation

The executive was made responsible for the negotiation but lacked the authority to offer discounts, so authority did not match responsibility. Span of control is not the issue, accountability cannot be wholly passed on, and delegating only to senior staff is not a principle.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Leadership, management and supervision shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Leadership, management and supervisionFree diagnostic mock

More Leadership, management and supervision questions