In a decentralized organization, business units are created to better achieve a sense of independence amongst management. In a business unit, management is responsible for ensuring that tasks in their department are being completed and for overseeing their subordinates. One of the three main characteristics of a decentralized organization is accountability, which means that one will have to answer for the job when it is done. Which of the following represents the non-existence of accountability in an organization?
A) A paralegal has been issued a warning after neglecting to file some documents with the courts that will delay the trial her manager is involved with.
B) A receptionist was in charge of submitting the sales department timesheets and was reprimanded by a manager when this was not completed.
C) A staff accountant was asked by their manager to come in over the weekend to complete the work the accountant had overlooked that had a deadline of the Friday before.
D) The manager of the production department has decided to make the task of cleaning the employee bathroom a volunteer-based task rather than assigning it to one employee.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This question requires familiarity with accountability, one of the three characteristics of a responsibility center. Choice D is the only one of the four choices that accurately depicts the non-existence of accountability since the task of cleaning the bathroom has not been assigned to anyone, leaving accountability for that task out of the picture. This choice impacts their department and the company overall. The other three choices represent the existence of accountability in the organization.

In a Decentralized Organization, Business Units Are Created to Better