Skip to content

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

Nadia, a department head, has delegated the preparation of a client report to a team member, Tom. She wants to retain control without undermining his initiative. Which approach best achieves this?

The best approach is to agree clear objectives and deadlines, give Tom the authority he needs and set review points. This keeps control through monitoring while allowing initiative. Micromanaging, abdicating or withholding authority all undermine effective delegation.

  1. AAgree clear objectives and deadlines, give Tom the necessary authority, and set review points to monitor progressCorrect
  2. BTell Tom exactly how to do each step and check every action as it happens
  3. CHand over the task without any guidance and review only if the client complains
  4. DDelegate the task but withhold the authority to obtain information from others

Explanation

Effective delegation combines clear objectives, adequate authority matching the responsibility, and agreed monitoring or feedback points. Checking every step is micromanagement and defeats delegation. Giving no guidance is abdication. Withholding authority leaves responsibility without authority, which makes the task unworkable.

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