Related Experiment Videos
Delegation versus empowerment: what, how, and is there a difference?
1Genesee Hospital, Rochester, NY, USA.
The Health Care Supervisor
|August 6, 1995
Summary
Delegation and empowerment are essentially the same supervisory task. Proper delegation, or empowerment, requires task ownership for success, as authority, not responsibility, is transferred.
Area of Science:
- Management Science
- Organizational Behavior
Background:
- Delegation and empowerment are critical supervisory functions.
- Understanding the nuances between these terms is essential for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the relationship between delegation and empowerment.
- To identify the core components of successful delegation/empowerment.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of management literature.
- Examination of the definitions and implications of delegation and empowerment.
Main Results:
- Delegation and empowerment are semantically equivalent; empowerment is proper delegation.
- The core element transferred in delegation/empowerment is authority, not responsibility.
- Task ownership by the employee is crucial for successful outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Effective supervision hinges on correctly implemented delegation or empowerment.
- Focusing on fostering task ownership is key to overcoming common delegation failures.