About this quiz
Job description, job specification and delegation of authority.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Public Management · For: Nayab Subba, Kharidar, Section Officer · Level: Medium). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
A written statement of the duties, responsibilities and reporting of a job is the:
- A) Job description ✔
- B) Job specification
- C) Appointment letter
- D) Leave form
Why: A job description (कार्य विवरण) is the written statement of a job's duties, responsibilities, authority and reporting line.
A statement of qualifications and skills needed for a job is the:
- A) Job specification ✔
- B) Job description
- C) Circular
- D) Tippani
Why: A job specification states the qualifications, skills, experience and qualities a person needs to do the job.
The study of a job to find its tasks and skill needs is:
- A) Job analysis ✔
- B) Job rotation
- C) Job enrichment
- D) Job cut
Why: Job analysis studies a job to find its tasks and the skills it needs. It produces both the job description and the job specification.
Which is mainly used for recruitment and selection?
- A) Job specification ✔
- B) Inspection report
- C) Darta register
- D) Agenda
Why: Recruiters use the job specification to decide who is qualified, so it is mainly used in recruitment and selection.
A job description helps mainly in:
- A) Fixing responsibility and performance evaluation ✔
- B) Paying customs duty
- C) Declaring curfew
- D) Issuing passports
Why: A job description makes clear who is responsible for what, and gives a basis for evaluating performance.
Delegation of authority means:
- A) Giving part of one's authority to a subordinate ✔
- B) Giving up all responsibility
- C) Firing a subordinate
- D) Transferring the office
Why: Delegation means a superior gives part of their authority to a subordinate to do assigned work, while staying ultimately accountable.
Which is NOT one of the three elements of delegation?
- A) Responsibility
- B) Authority
- C) Accountability
- D) Holiday ✔
Why: The three elements of delegation are responsibility, authority and accountability. A holiday is not one of them.
'Authority should match the responsibility given' is the principle of:
- A) Parity of authority and responsibility ✔
- B) Unity of command
- C) Span of control
- D) Seniority
Why: The principle of parity says the authority given should match the responsibility given, no more and no less.
Which cannot be fully passed to the subordinate?
- A) Ultimate accountability ✔
- B) Some authority
- C) Some tasks
- D) Routine work
Why: Authority and tasks can be delegated, but the superior cannot pass on ultimate accountability for the result.
In government, delegation of authority should have:
- A) A legal basis and usually be in writing ✔
- B) Only verbal approval
- C) No limits
- D) Political approval
Why: In government, delegation must have a legal basis and is usually given in writing, with clear limits.
Which is a benefit of delegation?
- A) Faster decisions and quicker service ✔
- B) More delays
- C) Less trust
- D) More centralisation
Why: Delegation lets decisions be made closer to the work, so decisions are faster and service is quicker.
A superior's fear of losing control is a:
- A) Barrier to delegation ✔
- B) Benefit of delegation
- C) Principle of delegation
- D) Type of leave
Why: A superior who fears losing control often keeps all decisions, which is a barrier to delegation.
'A subordinate should receive orders from one superior' is:
- A) Unity of command ✔
- B) Parity
- C) Delegation by results
- D) Job rotation
Why: Unity of command means each subordinate receives orders from only one superior.
In Nepal's civil service, who gives each employee a job description?
- A) The office chief ✔
- B) The citizen
- C) The bank
- D) The Election Commission
Why: In Nepal's civil service, the office chief gives each employee a job description.
Which item is usually in a job description?
- A) The supervisor the employee reports to ✔
- B) The employee's home address only
- C) Market prices
- D) Weather report
Why: A job description names the supervisor the employee reports to, along with duties and authority.
In Nepali, a job description is called:
- A) कार्य विवरण ✔
- B) कार्य विभाजन
- C) कार्यसम्पादन
- D) कार्यक्रम
Why: Job description is कार्य विवरण in Nepali.
In Nepali, delegation of authority is called:
- A) अधिकार प्रत्यायोजन ✔
- B) अधिकार हनन
- C) अधिकार क्षेत्र
- D) अधिकार पत्र
Why: Delegation of authority is अधिकार प्रत्यायोजन in Nepali.
Job analysis is the base for:
- A) Both job description and job specification ✔
- B) Only salary
- C) Only retirement
- D) Only leave
Why: Job analysis is the base for both the job description and the job specification.
'Qualifications, skills and experience needed' are part of:
- A) Job specification ✔
- B) Job description
- C) Inspection report
- D) Minute
Why: Qualifications, skills and experience needed belong to the job specification.
'Duties, responsibilities, authority and reporting' are part of:
- A) Job description ✔
- B) Job specification
- C) Budget
- D) Agenda
Why: Duties, responsibilities, authority and reporting belong to the job description.
Which is a use of the job description?
- A) Work allocation and accountability ✔
- B) Customs clearance
- C) Election
- D) Tax rate fixing
Why: Job descriptions are used to allocate work and hold people accountable for it.
A job description helps a new employee to:
- A) Settle quickly and know their work ✔
- B) Avoid work
- C) Skip training
- D) Get promotion immediately
Why: A clear job description helps a new employee understand the work and settle in quickly.
'This is not my work' conflicts are reduced by:
- A) Clear job descriptions ✔
- B) No job descriptions
- C) Frequent transfers
- D) Secret orders
Why: Clear job descriptions remove doubt about who does what, reducing 'this is not my work' disputes.
A job description is usually signed by:
- A) The employee and the office chief ✔
- B) Only citizens
- C) The bank
- D) The court
Why: A job description is usually signed by the employee and the office chief, so both accept it.
Performance evaluation is linked to:
- A) The job description ✔
- B) The weather
- C) The office layout
- D) The holiday list
Why: Performance evaluation compares what the employee did with the duties in their job description.
The three elements of delegation are:
- A) Responsibility, authority and accountability ✔
- B) Planning, budget and audit
- C) Input, output and feedback
- D) Form, storm and norm
Why: The three elements of delegation are responsibility, authority and accountability.
Authority means:
- A) The power to make decisions and use resources ✔
- B) The duty to work
- C) The obligation to answer
- D) A type of leave
Why: Authority is the power to make decisions, give orders and use resources.
Accountability means:
- A) The obligation to answer for results ✔
- B) The power to command
- C) The right to leave
- D) A budget head
Why: Accountability is the obligation to answer for results to the person who delegated the work.
Responsibility means:
- A) The duty assigned to a person ✔
- B) Power over money
- C) A punishment
- D) A holiday
Why: Responsibility is the duty assigned to a person.
Which principle says 'the superior cannot escape ultimate accountability'?
- A) Absoluteness of accountability (responsibility) ✔
- B) Parity
- C) Unity of command
- D) Scalar chain only
Why: The principle of absoluteness of accountability says a superior cannot escape ultimate accountability by delegating.
Delegating authority enough to achieve expected results is called:
- A) Delegation by expected results ✔
- B) Unity of command
- C) Centralisation
- D) Span of control
Why: Delegation by expected results means giving enough authority to achieve the results expected.
Clear limits of delegated authority are needed for:
- A) Clarity ✔
- B) Confusion
- C) Delay
- D) Corruption
Why: Clear limits of delegated authority prevent confusion about what the subordinate may decide.
Delegation supports which wider idea?
- A) Decentralisation ✔
- B) Centralisation
- C) Autocracy
- D) Monopoly
Why: Delegation is a step towards decentralisation, which spreads decision-making through the organisation.
Delegation helps seniors to:
- A) Focus on important matters ✔
- B) Avoid all responsibility
- C) Stop supervising
- D) Take more leave only
Why: By delegating routine work, seniors can focus on policy and important matters.
Delegation develops subordinates' skills and:
- A) Confidence ✔
- B) Fear
- C) Laziness
- D) Absence
Why: Delegation builds subordinates' skills and confidence.
A subordinate's fear of making mistakes is:
- A) A barrier to delegation ✔
- B) A principle
- C) An element
- D) A benefit
Why: A subordinate afraid of making mistakes may refuse authority, which is a barrier to delegation.
Unclear rules or no legal basis act as:
- A) Barriers to delegation ✔
- B) Benefits
- C) Elements
- D) Principles
Why: Unclear rules or the lack of a legal basis make officials unwilling to delegate.
In government, delegation is usually done:
- A) In writing ✔
- B) Only verbally
- C) Secretly
- D) By rumour
Why: In government, delegation is done in writing so its scope is clear and on record.
Which powers cannot be delegated?
- A) Powers the law gives personally to an official or forbids delegating ✔
- B) All powers
- C) Routine signing
- D) Darta work
Why: Powers that the law gives personally to an official cannot be delegated unless the law allows it.
Faster decisions through delegation lead to:
- A) Quicker service to citizens ✔
- B) More complaints
- C) Longer queues
- D) Higher costs
Why: Faster decisions through delegation give citizens quicker service.
A job description normally includes:
- A) Job title and level ✔
- B) The employee's bank balance
- C) Market prices
- D) Election dates
Why: A job description normally includes the job title and level.
The supervisor named in a job description shows the:
- A) Reporting relationship ✔
- B) Salary
- C) Leave balance
- D) Home address
Why: Naming the supervisor shows the reporting relationship.
Training needs can be identified by comparing performance with:
- A) The job description ✔
- B) The weather
- C) Festival dates
- D) Customs data
Why: Comparing actual performance with the job description shows gaps, which become training needs.
Which is TRUE about delegation?
- A) Authority can be delegated, ultimate accountability cannot ✔
- B) Accountability can be fully passed down
- C) Nothing can be delegated
- D) Delegation removes all superior duties
Why: Authority can be delegated, but ultimate accountability stays with the superior.
'A subordinate should receive orders from one superior' supports delegation because it:
- A) Avoids confusion of command ✔
- B) Increases conflict
- C) Reduces accountability
- D) Removes authority
Why: Unity of command avoids conflicting orders, so delegated work is clear.
Lack of trust by the superior leads to:
- A) Under-delegation ✔
- B) Over-delegation
- C) Perfect delegation
- D) Promotion
Why: When a superior does not trust subordinates, too little authority is passed down: under-delegation.
Job specification is mainly used during:
- A) Recruitment and selection ✔
- B) Retirement
- C) Audit
- D) Inspection only
Why: The job specification is mainly used during recruitment and selection.
Which document helps fix who is responsible when work goes wrong?
- A) Job description ✔
- B) Invitation letter
- C) Holiday list
- D) Visitor book
Why: The job description fixes who is responsible, so it shows who is answerable when work goes wrong.
Parity of authority and responsibility means:
- A) Authority should be equal to responsibility ✔
- B) Authority should exceed responsibility greatly
- C) No authority is given
- D) Responsibility is optional
Why: Parity means authority should be equal to responsibility.
Which of these delegates routine work properly?
- A) A section officer authorising an assistant to sign routine letters within limits ✔
- B) A minister giving away all powers permanently
- C) Hiding work from juniors
- D) Doing all work alone
Why: A section officer authorising an assistant to handle routine work, within limits, is proper delegation.