Delegation: what it is and what it means

Delegation is a structured transfer: the person who delegates gives up a share of choice, that is, a portion of decision-making authority and responsibility, to another person. It transfers not only the execution of a task, but also the decision on how to carry it out and the responsibility for the result, within a clear perimeter: a perimeter defined by the person who delegates, while the delegate acts within explicit constraints. It is not a one-off act: delegation is situational and concerns tasks that would formally fall to the person who delegates, unlike a job duty, which is structural and part of the team member's role.

Distinctive: also the decision on how to carry it out
Distinctive: responsibility for the result
Distinctive: structured transfer
Distinctive: gives up a share of choice
Essential: clear perimeter
Essential: not only the execution
Essential: portion of decision-making authority and responsibility
Essential: perimeter defined
Essential: explicit constraints
Constant: situational
Constant: would formally fall to the person who delegates
Constant: within explicit constraints

Glossary

Delegation

Transferring to another person not only the execution, but also the decision and the responsibility for the result, within a clear perimeter.