Concept:
• Delegation of authority is a process of sharing tasks and authority between a manager and their subordinates.
• It consists of three essential elements: Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability.
Step 1: Define the three elements of delegation
Authority: It refers to the right of an individual to command their subordinates and take action within the scope of their position. It flows downwards.
Responsibility: It is the obligation of a subordinate to properly perform the assigned duty. It arises from a superior-subordinate relationship and flows upwards.
Accountability: It implies being answerable for the final outcome of the assigned task. Once authority has been delegated and responsibility accepted, one cannot deny accountability.
Step 2: Identify the key difference
While authority and responsibility can be delegated or shared to some extent, accountability is absolute.
A superior remains accountable to their own boss for the tasks they have delegated to their subordinates.
Therefore, the state of being "answerable" for the final result is specifically defined as accountability.
Step 3: Conclusion
Since the question asks for the term representing "answerability for the outcome," Accountability is the correct choice.