Question

Describe a possible imbalance between a project manager's authority and responsibility.

What type of impact could it have on the project?

Answer 1

The balance between authority and responsibility is a key element for all the relations existing in the formal workplace. Authority could be defined as the power you have been provided with to regulate your subordinates and responsibility is the obligation you have to serve with the powers you have been provided. You are responsible for the powers and an effective balance between authority and responsibility should exist.

One example where there is an imbalance between the two could be the authority provided to a product manager to supervise and check that prdouct specifications are according to the qualitative standards or not. But for this, all the responsibilities the manager is entitled to that is the effective planning, organising, direction, motivation, training and leadership he is responsible to provide to subordinates, he is not doing that effectively. Thus an imbalance is created between authority and responsibility. It could impact the organisation as costs would become higher, effectivity could reduce and also effeciency to achieve the targeted goals.