delegiert

Delegiert is the past participle of the German verb delegieren, meaning to entrust tasks or decision-making authority to another person. In use, it describes actions or powers that have been transferred from a superior to a subordinate. The adjective form is used attributively as in eine delegierte Aufgabe or delegierte Befugnisse, and the passive construction is common in phrases like Die Entscheidung wurde delegiert.

The term originates from the Latin delegare, “to entrust to a delegate,” and entered German via French déléguer. It is closely related to the noun Delegation, which denotes the act or process of transferring authority, and to the verb delegieren itself.

Delegation is a central concept in management, public administration, and politics. In organizations, delegation enables efficiency, flexibility, and employee development by shifting responsibility while maintaining accountability. In politics and law, delegated powers refer to authority that is legally assigned to another body or official, with limits and oversight.

Effective delegation involves clear scope, defined objectives, appropriate authority, sufficient resources, and a mechanism for supervision and feedback. Common practice includes specifying what can be decided, by whom, and by when, along with accountability for outcomes.

Risks include over-delegation, unclear boundaries, loss of control, and miscommunication. To mitigate these risks, organizations emphasize alignment with goals, documented decisions, regular reporting, and trust built through competence and transparency.

In everyday language, delegiert is used to describe tasks or powers that have already been transferred to others, and it remains a key tool for organizational and administrative effectiveness.