7 important Principles of Delegation formulated by Koontz and O’Donnell

7 important Principles of Delegation formulated by Koontz and O’Donnell

Koontz and O’Donnell give the following principles as guides to delegation of authority.

1. Principle of Delegation by Results Expected:

Authority is delegated to achieve the enterprise objectives. ‘Delegation by results expected implies that goals have been set and plans made, that these are communicated and understood, and that jobs have been set up to fit in with them’.

2. Principle of Functional Definition:

The functions undertaken by managers are clearly explained. ‘The more a position or a department has clear definitions of results expected, activities to be undertaken, organisation, authority delegated, and authority and informational relationships with other positions, the more adequately individuals responsible can contribute toward accomplishing enterprise objectives’.

3. Scalar Principles:

This refers to the chain of authority relationships from superior to subordinate throughout the organisation. ‘As the scalar principle indicates, this clearer thin line is from the top of the bottom of the organisation structure, the better delegation and orderly decision making are facilitated’.

4. Authority Level Principles:

Each manager can take his own decision within his authority and only matters not within his authority must be referred to his superior.

5. Principle of Unity of Command:

This means that a subordinate is answerable to only one boss. ‘The more completely an individual has a relationship to a single superior, the less the problem of conflict in instructions and the greater the feeling of personal responsibility for results’.

6. Principle of Absoluteness of Responsibility:

The responsibility of the subordinate to his superior for the assigned responsibility is absolute.

7. Principle of Parity of Authority and Stability:

This principle states that authority should correspond to the responsibility. ‘The responsibility for action cannot be greater than that implied by a authority delegated, nor can it be less’.