The line in which authority flows from the top executive down to the ranks of employees and accountability flows up is called what?

• A. Chain of Command
• B. Ombudsmen
• C. Organizational Chart
• D. Plan of Correction

Answer: (A)

Authority flowing from the top down with accountability moving upward is the chain of command. This structure establishes who has decision-making power, who reports to whom, and how orders and information travel through the organization. It creates clear lines of supervision and responsibility, so every level knows who to answer to and who is accountable for outcomes.

An organizational chart simply maps those relationships visually, showing the hierarchy but not by itself enforcing the flow of authority. An ombudsman is a person who investigates complaints and resolves disputes, not the mechanism for hierarchical authority. A plan of correction is a formal set of actions to address deficiencies, not a description of reporting lines.