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Clause 5.3.1 Responsibility and authority

Discussion in 'ISO 9001:2015 - Quality Management Systems' started by mk241, Jan 15, 2023.

  1. mk241

    mk241 Member

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    Hi,

    I would like to learn how companies establish/maintain staff's responsibilities and authorities.

    Examples would be for responsibilities.
    - Organisational chart
    - Job description

    How about authority?
     
    mk241, Jan 15, 2023
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  2. Jennifer Kirley

    Jennifer Kirley Moderator Staff Member

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    Ideally the person with responsibility to do something would also have the authority to do it. Otherwise, why assign the role or task?

    I my experience, having responsibility but not authority for something can result in organizational dysfunction.
     
    Jennifer Kirley, Jan 16, 2023
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  3. Andy Nichols

    Andy Nichols Moderator Staff Member

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    I use procedures and/or process diagrams as well as job descriptions to describe authorities. "The Sales Manager has authority to approve a quotation of greater than $100,000"
     
    Andy Nichols, Jan 16, 2023
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  4. Miner

    Miner Moderator Staff Member

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    There are two types of authority and they are usually handled differently:
    • Positional authority - inherent in the role. I usually see this documented in the position descriptions
    • Delegated authority - delegated to a role by the positional authority. I usually see this documented in procedures or policies
     
    Miner, Jan 17, 2023
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  5. tony s

    tony s Well-Known Member

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    ISO/TS 9002:2016 (Quality management systems — Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2015) provided this guide in the last paragraph in Section 5.3: "Top management should determine how to communicate the relevant roles, responsibilities and authorities. This could be through the use of relevant documented information, e.g. job descriptions, work instructions, duty statements, organization charts, manuals, procedures."

    Other approaches can be on appointment letters, office orders, memorandum circulars, rules and regulations, statutory mandates, letter of authorization, special power of attorney, endorsement, promotion, nomination, winning the votes, oath taking, dubbing a knight, coronation of monarch, etc.:)
     
    tony s, Jan 18, 2023
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  6. Abed Salameh

    Abed Salameh Member

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    I would create Authority Matrix, for different areas, for example authority to approve document, concession, quality inspection/ stamp, sales contract review etc. with primary person and secondary person if required.
    I have found it useful specially when someone is off etc.Of course this is not the only way but include as others mentioned in procedures, WIs, Organizational chart, manual etc.
     
    Abed Salameh, Feb 28, 2023
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