THIRUKURAL 517 : Delegation of Powers

Thirukkural on Management

The  Delegation of Powers

The students of modern management are familiar with the term delegation of powers. It is an art of getting the  work done through others by delegating some responsibilities to them. No matter how capable a manager is, carrying the entire burden of achieving the organization's goals by himself is impossible. Along with technical, analytical and organizational skills, a manager should have good ability to delegate certain responsibilities to the right people at the right time.

A person selected for delegating the responsibility should be trust worthy and efficient to do that particular task. A King/CEO/Minister/Manager should be careful in selecting the right person. Once Selected, he should be allowed to complete the task and higher authorities should not interfere unnecessarily. This principle of modern management has been explained in Kural 517. 

In simple words:

"A manager should select a right person for a particular work after considering that he would complete the work by using these means and then allow him to complete the work without any interference"

இதனை இதனால் இவன்முடிக்கும் என்றாய்ந்
ததனை அவன்கண் விடல். (517)

A delegate selected to represent a Nation  in an International Forum should have powerful communication skill.He should have a tested knowledge in the  International affairs, otherwise , he will bring discredit to the Nation. 

The Chief executive of a country ( President or PM  according to the constitution ) should select the right persons and handover the portfolios. 
Only to a person with sufficient knowledge in economics should be give ' Finance '. A person with thorough knowledge in foreign affairs should be given 'External', etc. 
PM should remember that he is delegating his powers to them, any fault of them would reflect on him.
While selecting the envoys to other countries, care should be taken to select the best persons who could act according to the foreign policy of the domestic country.

How to select the right person?
Chief Executive should consider many factors.
Thiruvalluvar says- 
Consider the person's loving nature, knowledge in the  field,  firm determination  to execute the work  and a mind with  no greediness for money and then select .( 513) 
அன்பறிவு தேற்றம் அவாவின்மை இந்நான்கும்
நன்குடையான் கட்டே தெளிவு. (513)
1) A delegate should have loving nature or pleasing manners which will impress others.
2) A clear knowledge in the  field is very important. 
3) He should have a strong determination to execute the work entrusted to him.
4) He should have a mind free from greediness for money .( அவாவின்மை )

It is a well known fact that some of  the ministers in India  to whom the Head of the Government  had  delegated certain powers,  because of their greediness towards money, involved in scams after scams and looted the Nation's purse. 

The  CEO should be careful while selecting, he should select a person who knows the in and out of the nature of the work and who is  capable of  performing the assignment with precision. He should not try to select any other incapable person on the basis of any favour or attachment. (515)
அறிந்தாற்றிச் செய்கிற்பாற் கல்லால் வினைதான்
சிறந்தானென் றேவற்பாற் றன்று.(515)
This is another important factor in the process of  selecting the delegates,  they should be selected purely on merit,  not on any favour. Selecting people for  high posts by favouritism is known as nepotism which  is very common in countries like India. The nepotism has ruined the country's prosperity and lead the country to face  many corruptions.

Thiruvalluvar had indicated that while selecting the  persons to delegate any power , care should taken to select the most  fitting persons.

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