Length: 780 words (2.8 pages)
Rating: Red (FREE)      
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Delegation Paper
     According to Batman and Snell (2004), delegation is the assignment of authority and responsibility to a subordinate at a lower level requiring that the subordinate reports back to their manager the results, positive or negative. Within my professional career I have experienced several management styles. With regard to the subject matter of delegation, I have been lead by an experienced, effective, and efficient manager that utilized delegation and the functions of management while employed with Pitney Bowes Management Services (PBMS).
The Customer Service Manager (CSM), Ebonie Kelley, Site Manager at McDermott, Will and Emory, was accountable for a team of 32. Of the 32 team members, six were apart of the management team. Her management team was a diverse mix of age, race, gender, and ethics. As the site manager, she is accountable for an enormous amount of responsibilities, but budget, site policies, and staff procedures were the bulk of these responsibilities. Organizing a management team was an ideal choice for operating a customer service based operation. She understood that maintaining the same level of efficiency without actually doing the bulk of the work was the goal she wanted to achieve. Her team consisted of two team leads (TL), one for the mail department and one for reprographics, and four lead site representatives (LSR), three for mail and one for reprographics.
As the CSM, she delegated responsibilities, authority, and accountability for daily procedures, assignments, projects, and other tasks that she would normally be responsible for, to her TL?s. She gave these two complete responsibility and authority to act in her position dealing with site policies. Delegating these responsibilities gave them complete accountability for the actions of the other 30 team members, and this way she is able to do other things that she had been lacking on because of her workload, such as organizational development. This plan of delegation would train the TL?s to one day assume a position as CSM. Giving the TL?s responsibilities and the authority that pertained to these policies and processes, gave them the ability to choose their LSR?s. . The LSR reports to the TL the information that happens in the different departments that exist. The LSR is responsible for the daily operations of non-management staff, such as assigned task, covering breaks, etc.
     Ms. Kelley used her delegation power to set up a chain of command. Having this system in place insures all of the responsibilities she is accountable for are cover. Someone is responsible for certain responsibilities, as well as the accountable for them. She is able to have management meetings once a week to retain feedback from her management team; site meetings once a month to inform staff of changes or improvements that enables and promote her site to be an efficient, team oriented facility with quality services provided. Having this management team in place sets up cross training for all team members, team oriented work process that worked.
     To effective delegate, a person should have an understanding of the functions of management. Being able to plan, organize, lead, and control as a manager would promote sound delegations with people, operations, and etc. They must have organizational and interpersonal skills. Having people skills will give a manager the ability to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with others. Another skill a manger should practice is being a generalist and not a specialist. A specialist is a person who wants to be an expert in something. On the other hand, a generalist is one that knows enough of a variety of different perspectives. A good manager should be rounded with different perspectives, thus being so would make their delegation skills rounded. Being self-reliant taking full responsibility for their actions is also a good skill to have when delegating. They should also possess conceptual and decision skills help the manager recognize complex and dynamic issues, analyze the factors that influence those issues or problems, and make appropriate decisions. Have proper business ethics comprises the moral principles and standards that guide behavior in the world of business
     Working in this type of environment as my first job, gave me the experience of working in an effective and efficient management system. After the experience and working with Ms Kelley, I decided to pursue a career in management. Ms Kelley was excellent at delegation. She seemed to know when to do something and when not to do something. She possesses all of the previously mentioned skills that it takes to be a good with delegation.


References
Bateman, T.S, &. Snell, S.A (2004). Management: The New Competitive Landscape (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.