Management consulting is the practice of helping organizations to improve their performance. Organizations may draw upon the services of management consultants for a number of reasons, including gaining external advice and access to consultants’ specialized expertise.
According to Bernand, management consultant authority is the character of a communication {order} in a formal organization. By virtue of this order it is directed what needs to be done and what not needs to be done for the business of the organization by the specific employee to whom the order is directed.
According to Koontz and O’Donnell, the following statement, ”Viewed internally with respect to the enterprise responsibility may be defined as the obligation of the subordinate. This obligation represents the action or the duty which has been assigned to a particular employee. The essence of responsibility is then obligation.”
In fact authority means a formal institutional or a legal power in a particular position which is empowered to issue such orders to perform a power function of functions.
Bernand says that the character of a communication which it is accepted by a contributor of two members of the organization, governing the action he contributed. At the same time Simone, another management consultant explains that the author is the power to make decisions which guides the actions of others or just another. The superior frames such decisions which subordinate accept at the same time these decisions are aligned to the vision of the organization. From the above explanation, we understand that authority needs the right to influence the behavior of others.
Only persons holding authority can make decisions, as it is the main feature of his authority. A manager has the authority to order his subordinates to act or not to act in a particular manner. HE does this because he has already made a decision.
It is also noted that sometimes the exercise of the author may contain an element of the authority may contain an element of subjectivity. Thus a manager has authority to reward or punish his subordinates according to their performance. There’s no doubt assessment is often influenced by his personal likes and dislikes.
There are various theories to explain the sources of authority. These are as follows.
1. Formal or Traditional or Top – Down Theory
2. Acceptance or Bottom – Up Theory
3. Competence or Personal Authority Theory.
1. Formal Or Top Down Theory – It means the authority flows from rules flow from consents of all stakeholders. The owners on their part select and appoint staff that will help accomplish the task & responsibilities necessary to achieve organizational goals.
2. Acceptance Theory – Acceptance Theory is the exact opposite of formal theory. According to this theory the manager’s authority will be in direct proportion to the acceptance given to his subordinates. If the subordinates do not accept the authority of the manager, they may not willingly comply with his decisions & orders – they may even defy them.
3. Competence Theory Of Authority – A person can influence, the behavior of other even if he commands any formal or legal authority. This happens when he enjoys support and confidence of his supports because they see him as personification of their urges & aspirations. They also trust due to various reasons in the untrust of the organisations.
With the help of these theories we can get to know more about how a person behaves in front of his superior whether he follows his superiors he goes against them.
Blog is written By Vikram.
