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 best represents the existence of accountability in an organization?
A) A manager in charge of the product design team asked a lower-level associate to order supplies that are needed by the department to function. She is busy and did not follow up and ending up placing the order herself when supplies were about to run out.
B) A new office assistant was asked to check the company voicemail in the morning but has neglected to do it, so messages were missed.
C) A pharmaceutical sales representative does not submit a mileage report for the week and is denied a reimbursement by the manager for not following protocol.
D) The maintenance person was asked in passing by a manager to hang updated workplace safety posters and forgot to follow up.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This question requires familiarity with accountability, one of the three characteristics of a responsibility center. Choice C is the only one of the four choices that accurately depicts the existence of accountability since the sales representative was held accountable for not following the assigned protocol. This choice impacts their department and the company overall. The other three choices represent a lack of accountability from the managers for the subordinates.

In a Decentralized Organization, Business Units Are Created to Better