• Authority is delegated, responsibility is assured and accountability is imposed.
•  Responsibility is derived from authority and accountability is derived from responsibility.

There are three elements of delegation. 

•  1. Granting the authority to the subordinates  
• 2. Assigning responsibility to subordinates  
• 3. Accountability among subordinates

Authority: Authority is the power to command employees and instruct them to perform a job. It flows from top to bottom. The subordinates execute the given jobs as per the instructions of the superior. Authority is always restricted by rules and regulation of the organization. 

Responsibility: Responsibility is the obligation of a subordinate to perform the assigned duty. The responsibility flows upwards. It includes all the physical and mental activities to be performed by the employee for a job. Delegation starts when the superior transfers some of his responsibility to the subordinates.

 Accountability: It is the obligation on the part of the subordinates to perform the assigned duties as expected by the managers. For this purpose, accountability is created. Accountability means being answerable for the final results. Accountability can never be delegated.