Final answer:
The project manager can delegate authority but cannot delegate accountability and must manage conflicting priorities effectively. Delegating tasks while maintaining responsibility for outcomes promotes autonomy and project alignment. Properly coordinated roles and active stakeholder participation are essential for successful project management.
Step-by-step explanation:
A project manager should be aware that while authority can be delegated, ultimate accountability cannot. They must carefully assign responsibilities and manage conflicting priorities to maintain the project’s success. For example, a project manager can delegate the task of data collection, but they retain the responsibility for the project’s outcomes. This delineation of roles ensures that project managers provide sufficient oversight without micromanaging, allowing team members autonomy within their roles while ensuring all activities align with the project's objectives.
In scenario-based contexts, such conflicts can arise when a project is overloaded with tasks or when the team faces ambiguous role definitions. To resolve these, project managers can employ appropriate coordination strategies, weighing the transaction costs of decision-making against the necessity of maintaining project conformity.
It is crucial for a project manager to foster a work environment where all stakeholders, including team members and leaders, effectively participate and contribute to the project's success. This synergy leverages different skills and minimizes supervisory needs by encouraging proactive communication and independent problem-solving.