Giving official authority to employees to make decisions and control their own work activities is called what?

• A. Delegation
• B. Empowerment
• C. Consultation
• D. Bonus

Answer: (B)

Empowerment means giving employees official authority to decide how to do their work and to control those activities within the boundaries of their role. It’s about trusting people to make decisions rather than just carrying out instructions. This goes beyond delegation, which is handing over tasks while the manager still holds ultimate responsibility; empowerment grants ongoing decision-making power and autonomy. Consultation is just seeking input, not granting authority, and a bonus is a financial reward, not authority over work. With empowerment, employees can respond more quickly and feel more motivated because they have real control over their tasks.