Why Delegate?

Delegation is essential to our society, as it improves efficiency, expands the range of responsible actors, and increases happiness. Why Delegate? investigates the incentives to delegate and the risks we take in doing so, using real-world case studies to illustrate the broad functionality of delegation logic and the wide range of incentives at work in these relationships.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 26 August 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

From mundane tasks like choosing a plumber to weightier ones like running a country, the world turns on delegation. We delegate particular tasks to people we believe have more expertise than we do. When it is successful, delegation improves efficiency, expands the range of responsible actors, and even increases happiness. When delegation fails, though, it brings conflict, corruption, and an absence of accountability. In Why Delegate?, Neil J. Mitchell investigates the incentives to delegate and the risks we take in doing so. He demonstrates how a new, modified understanding of the simple structure of the delegation relationship—the principal-agent relationship, as economists have described it—simplifies a myriad of important and seemingly disparate problems in private and public life. Using real-world case studies including child abuse in the Catholic Church, the Volkswagen pollution scandal, and FIFA corruption, Mitchell illustrates the broad functionality of delegation logic and the wide range of incentives at work in these relationships. Diverse examples reveal the opportunism of both the leaders and the led and show how accepted accounts of the principal-agent relationship are incomplete. By drawing on multidisciplinary research to address complex questions of motivation, control, responsibility, and accountability, the book builds a broader, more useful logic of delegation.

Why Delegate? moves beyond the standard economic accounts of delegation to offer a fresh take on a wide variety of issues and shows how essential the act of delegating is to our society. Mitchell's comprehensive account delves into the incentives behind delegation, the risks involved, and the broader implications of this practice in both private and public domains. Through real-world case studies such as child abuse within the Catholic Church, the Volkswagen pollution scandal, and FIFA corruption, Mitchell illustrates the practical applications of delegation logic and the diverse range of incentives at play in these relationships. By drawing on multidisciplinary research to address complex questions of motivation, control, responsibility, and accountability, the book expands our understanding of delegation and offers a more useful framework for decision-making.

In conclusion, Why Delegate? is a valuable contribution to the field of management and governance. By challenging traditional economic accounts of delegation and offering a multidisciplinary approach, Mitchell provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the act of delegating. Through real-world case studies and multidisciplinary research, the book offers a broader, more useful logic of delegation that can help individuals and organizations make informed decisions and achieve better outcomes. Whether you are a manager, leader, or decision-maker, this book will provide valuable insights and practical tools for effective delegation.

Weight: 236g
Dimension: 139 x 208 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190904203