Question

Distinguish between Responsibility, Authority and Accountability on the basis of :

(i) Meaning (ii) Nature

(iii) Flow of communication (iv) Actions

Answer 1

$\begin{array}{cccc}\text{Basis}& \text{Responsibility}& \text{Authority}& \text{Accountability}\\ \text{Meaning}& \text{Duty assigned to a}& \text{Right or power granted}& \text{Liability for a subordinate}\\ & \text{subordinate by a superior.}& \text{to a subordinate by a}& \text{created for use of authority}\\ & & \text{superior.}& \text{authority by superior.}\\ \text{Nature}& \text{It is an obligation for a}& \text{It is a right of a}& \text{It is an obligation for a}\\ & \text{subordinate to act responsibly.}& \text{subordinate to give}& \text{subordinate to report}\\ & & \text{order.}& \text{formally to superiors.}\\ \text{Flow of communication}& \text{Communication}& \text{Communication}& \text{Communication flows}\\ & \text{flows upwards from}& \text{flows downwards}& \text{across all levels.}\\ & \text{bottom to top.}& \text{from top to bottom.}& \\ \text{Actions}& \text{Subordinates are responsible}& \text{Subordinates are responsible}& \text{Superior is responsible}\\ & \text{for their own actions.}& \text{for their own actions.}& \text{for subordinates' action.}\end{array}$