Delegasjon

Delegasjon is the act of entrusting authority or responsibility for specific tasks to another person or group while maintaining overall accountability. In organizational, governmental, and diplomatic settings, delegation enables work to be redistributed to match skills, priorities, and timelines. The term comes from Latin delegare, to appoint or assign.

Key elements of delegation include a clear mandate, defined objectives, appropriate level of authority, availability of resources, and a mechanism for reporting and review. It is important to distinguish between responsibility, authority, and accountability: the delegatee carries responsibility and decision rights for the assigned tasks, but the delegator remains ultimately accountable for outcomes.

Contexts: In management, delegation often involves assigning routine or complex tasks to subordinates or teams, with follow-up and evaluation. In public administration, authorities may delegate decision-making to agencies or committees. In diplomacy, a delegation refers to a group representing a country in negotiations or meetings with other states.

Benefits include increased efficiency, skill development, and faster decision-making. Risks include loss of control, misalignment with goals, scope creep, and ethical concerns. Successful delegation requires clear mandates, training, trust, and ongoing supervision, as well as mechanisms to revoke or modify the delegation if needed.

See also: delegation of authority; delegation (law).