auktoritetsfält

Auktoritetsfält is a concept used in organizational and governance contexts to describe the set of authorities and decision rights assigned to individuals, groups, or units within a system. It refers to who has the formal power to authorize actions, approve resources, or impose rules, as well as where those powers begin and end. The term highlights how authority is distributed, delegated, and limited, and how it travels through an organization or process.

Key elements of an auktoritetsfält include the scope of authority (what decisions and resources are covered), the specific actors who hold authority (roles or individuals), boundaries that delineate what lies outside the field, and accountability for outcomes. Legitimacy and compliance with rules or statutes are also central, since authority is most effective when it is recognized as valid and enforceable.

Contexts and applications: In organizational theory, the auktoritetsfält shapes governance, coordination, and internal controls. In public administration, it concerns the delegation of authority from higher to lower levels of government or agencies. In information systems and security, the term is often used informally to describe the set of permissions or access rights associated with a role or user, influencing who may perform certain actions on data or systems.

Relation to related concepts: The field interfaces with decision rights, power dynamics, and control mechanisms. It differs from raw power in that it is grounded in formal rules and structures, though informal influence can expand or contract the field. It is related to authorization (auktorisering) and access control in IT contexts.

Example: A department head may approve expenditures up to a specified limit, while higher approvals require additional authorization, defining the practical extent of the auktoritetsfält.