Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Certification Practice Test

What is a primary advantage of using committees?

1. Increased individual accountability

2. Consolidation of power and authority

3. Faster decision-making processes

4. Standardization of tasks across a team

The correct answer is: Consolidation of power and authority

The primary advantage of using committees lies in the consolidation of power and authority. Committees bring together individuals with diverse expertise and perspectives, allowing for more comprehensive analysis and discussion of issues at hand. This collective approach encourages involvement from various stakeholders, leading to well-rounded decisions that reflect a broader range of interests and considerations. This consolidation not only enhances decision-making through input from various members but also helps distribute workload and responsibility. While individual accountability might be shared among committee members, the strength of the committee comes from its collective authority; members can weigh in on issues in a way that might not be possible for individuals acting alone. In contrast, faster decision-making processes can be a challenge with committees, as the need for discussion and consensus can lead to delays. Standardization of tasks may be applicable in specific contexts but is not the primary focus of why committees are used. Increased individual accountability is diminished in a committee setting since responsibilities are typically shared, potentially leading to ambiguity in individual contributions.