what is the different between authority and responsibility?

Answer 1

you know how there are two sides to everything: the cloud and the silver lining?

well, authority is power and privilege, and responsibility is the downside: answerability.

when you say someone has authority you mean that that person has the ability to make things happen. or that the person has the ability to compel other people to do things or even think things.

the authority can come out of the strength of their own personality, or out of their skills, knowledge, and experience. sometimes authority comes from age, or position. sometimes a person is just given authority, even if they don't deserve it.

responsibility is the other side of this: it means absorbing the consequences--good or bad--of a decision or action. it means getting the credit, or taking the blame. and it means making the effort to reduce the harm if something goes wrong.

a person with authority can decide to start a war. a person with responsibility will take the blame if the war is lost, and put together an aid package for the veterans.

needless to say, the two don't ALWAYS go together. often, people in positions of authority will refuse responsibility. think of george w. bush and the war in iraq. often, the people who take responsibility for things aren't the people who had--or have--the authority to change them. think of gulf war veterans, who have very little support from the government.

Answer 2

Authority And Responsibility Definition

Answer 3

They are definitely related! But the word 'authority' means two different things, and people often use it in a confusing way so you don't know which sense they are talking about.

One meaning of 'authority' is 'expertise'. So and so is an authority on ancient history or nanotechnology or the migration patterns of waterfowl. It means a person has studied something, learned about it for years, and knows a lot about it.

The other meaning of 'authority' is 'empowerment' or 'control'. Being 'authorized' to do certain things.

When someone says "I don't have the authority to make that decision," he doesn't mean the first sense, he means the second.

The second version of 'authority' includes a responsibility. Every privilege or empowerment entails a certain responsibility. And vice versa. The two go hand in hand. If you are authorized by your employer, for instance, to run a department, or even just a machine, you are responsible for how well that department or that machine runs. Conversely, if your boss makes you responsible for something, you can't be responsible for it unless you have a certain amount of authority over it.

Answer 4

Plenty.
Let us start with responsibility.
Responsibility is a burden. It is a yoke , a ball and chain associated with work, chores, labor, you get the picture.

Authority sometimes come with responsibility, but not always. Authority is a vaguely attributed power in an organization to assume command and dole out the responsibiloity of work. It often belongs to the next higher up as no one ever is sure of what authority one has when one takes on a job.

The eternal question is " Do you have enough authority to dole out others to take responsibility ? Can you delegate the responsibility and will that fly? Next thing you know everyone has resigned and you will be blamed for the loss of staff.

Answer 5

There is a big difference in my opinion.

Authority is something that you have to earn through carry out responsibilities and showing leadership.. Yes you have responsibilities in a position of authority but you also have respect.

Responsibilities are things which we all have to varying degrees.

Answer 6

Responsibility will not be come by authority. But authority will come by accepting responsibility.

Answer 7

An authority is a WHO, and responsibility is an ACTION ACCOUNTABILITY assigned to the WHO.

Answer 8

Authority is the respect you earn in front of others and responsibility mean that something is in your care and you must protect it wisely.

Answer 9

The person responsible is the person who will do it. The person accountable is the person will will get the credit/flak if it's done correctly/poorly. Normally in the workplace, the manager is accountable for results of his employees' responsibilities.

Answer 10

Authority can be delegated but no responsibility.