Final answer:
Delegation is the process of entrusting work to others within an organization's hierarchy of authority, where managers assign responsibilities to employees to promote efficiency and align with organizational goals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Delegation refers to c) the process of entrusting work to others. This concept is a fundamental element of management within a hierarchy of authority such as businesses or other organizations. In such frameworks, individuals or groups delegate responsibility and authority to others to perform specific tasks or make decisions. This often involves managers entrusting responsibilities to their employees, which not only helps in managing transaction costs but also empowers employees and promotes efficiency within the organization by enabling specialization.
Such delegation is integral to the chain of command and is reflected in traditional bureaucracy in organizational structures. In contrast to merely telling employees how to do their work or showing favoritism, effective delegation should align with overall organizational goals. It should be conducted in a manner that supports career growth, job satisfaction, and skill development of the employees, leading to a partnership between the supervisor and employees toward the success of the broader organizational objectives.