Pick A Job You Have Held
Pick a job you have held, and describe it in terms of span of control, delegation, responsibility, authority, and accountability in relation to the course materials explanation of these terms.
In the United States Army there are two basic types of “Authority”: command authority and general military authority. Authority is the legitimate power of leaders to direct soldiers or to take action within the scope of their position. Military authority begins with the Constitution, which divides it between Congress and the President. The President, as commander in chief, commands the armed forces, including the Army. The authority from the Commander-in-Chief extends through the chain of command all the way down through the ranks.
The number of subordinates who report directly to an executive or supervisor is called span of control (Brasfield, pg245). This would correlate directly to our rank structure, chain of command and task organization. Each head quarters, unit, team, section, quad and individual has someone or some element of command that they report to in the military. The sizes of these formations are depicted by assignment and fluctuate often.
Military responsibility is being accountable for what you do or fail to do. Soldiers, because of their position have the responsibility to execute any duty that they hold in the unit. Also, each soldier is individually responsible for his own personal conduct and that responsibility cannot be delegated. A soldier is accountable for his actions to fellow soldiers, leaders, unit and the US Army.
Delegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to a subordinate at a lower level (Brasfield, pg246). Just as Congress and the President cannot participate in every aspect of the armed forces operations, most leaders cannot handle every action directly. To meet the organization's goals, Army officers delegate authority to Senior Soldiers, who in turn, may further delegate that authority. Unless restricted by law,
In the United States Army there are two basic types of “Authority”: command authority and general military authority. Authority is the legitimate power of leaders to direct soldiers or to take action within the scope of their position. Military authority begins with the Constitution, which divides it between Congress and the President. The President, as commander in chief, commands the armed forces, including the Army. The authority from the Commander-in-Chief extends through the chain of command all the way down through the ranks.
The number of subordinates who report directly to an executive or supervisor is called span of control (Brasfield, pg245). This would correlate directly to our rank structure, chain of command and task organization. Each head quarters, unit, team, section, quad and individual has someone or some element of command that they report to in the military. The sizes of these formations are depicted by assignment and fluctuate often.
Military responsibility is being accountable for what you do or fail to do. Soldiers, because of their position have the responsibility to execute any duty that they hold in the unit. Also, each soldier is individually responsible for his own personal conduct and that responsibility cannot be delegated. A soldier is accountable for his actions to fellow soldiers, leaders, unit and the US Army.
Delegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to a subordinate at a lower level (Brasfield, pg246). Just as Congress and the President cannot participate in every aspect of the armed forces operations, most leaders cannot handle every action directly. To meet the organization's goals, Army officers delegate authority to Senior Soldiers, who in turn, may further delegate that authority. Unless restricted by law,