Samer AlhmdanSenior Project Manager, PMP, PMI-RMP, LEED AP, EDGE Expert| darDubai, United Arab Emirates
Is there a responsibility without authority? in other words, can a team member be blamed something went wrong if he was not given the required authorization. Saving Changes...
Carl ProChief Operations Officer| ProCHEM LLCMonroeville, Pa, United States
Responsibility is the work assigned to a person. Authority is the sum of powers and rights entrusted to make possible the performance of the work delegated. Accountability is the obligation to carry out responsibility and exercise authority in terms of performance standards established.
Giving employees responsibilities without the authority to meet them is a recipe for project disaster. Saving Changes...
Timothy GriffinSenior Consultant| Deloitte Consulting, Lake Mary FLOrlando, Fl, United States
That's a good point Jess. But, if the team member believes they can successfully accomplish the task, they may be in line for a reward. Maybe more responsibility. The act of doing the job before getting the job.
The task may fall within the team members risk tolerance. They may not care if they are not successful as long as they had a chance to progress their career. Saving Changes...
Tom BjörkholmConsultant| Knowit ConnectivityLinköping, Sweden
In many organisations it is unfortunately common to assign responsibility to team members without giving them the authority needed. In these organisations the team member usually has no way of refusing the responsibility assigned to them.
As Carl points out this a recipe for failure.
I have read about cases like this that has gone to court (where the responsibility was safety related). In the cases I have read about the court ruled in favour of the team member being assigned responsibility but insufficient authority due to the fact that this person had clearly flagged he was unable to take the required steps because of the lack of authority. The court put the blame/responsibility on the manager that had assigned the responsibility but not the authority. This was in Europe.
(I am not a lawyer, and this is only based on what I have read in newspapers/magazines.) Saving Changes...
Deepa KalangiManager, Program Management, Author, Trainer| CVS HealthCharlotte, NC, United States
This is a very good question, logically and by definition, it does not make a whole lot of sense, but unfortunately, the responsibility is there regardless of authority or not. Authority is something we have to earn along the way. Saving Changes...
Bob PatrinoConsultant/Senior Technical Project Manager| TamazariNewport, KY, United States
In the real world, that is what most project managers have. It is rare that a PM has any authority over those on their project teams. Saving Changes...
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