Beyond Command and Control: How Clarity and Feedback Shape Operational Efficiency- Evidence From Albanian Managers

Abstract Book of the 19th International Conference on Modern Research in Management, Economics and Accounting

Year: 2026

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Beyond Command and Control: How Clarity and Feedback Shape Operational Efficiency- Evidence From Albanian Managers

Marsela Cengeli, Mimoza Manxhari

ABSTRACT:

This study examines how different delegation practices influence organizations’ ability to meet operational deadlines within the Albanian managerial context. Timeline-driven operational efficiency refers to the ability of organizations to complete tasks and processes within planned timeframes. Albania represents a relevant setting for this analysis because it is characterized by high power distance and a post-communist managerial culture in which centralized authority and personalized coordination continue to shape organizational behavior.
The study aims to move beyond the general recommendation to “delegate more” by treating delegation as a multidimensional managerial practice. Specifically, it focuses on three key delegation mechanisms: task clarity, decision-making latitude and support, and continuous feedback. The theoretical framework combines insights from goal-setting theory, job characteristics theory, contingency theory, empowerment perspectives, and time-based competition theory to explain how delegation practices may influence operational efficiency.
An exploratory cross-sectional correlational design was used. Survey data were collected from 109 managers, with 107 complete responses included in the final analysis. Participants represented sectors including services, finance and banking, manufacturing, technology, and others. All variables were measured using single-item five-point Likert scales adapted from established delegation measures. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and standardized OLS regression with bootstrap inference.
The findings indicate that the timeline-related value of delegation depends mainly on structured managerial guidance. Task clarity emerged as the strongest predictor of timeline efficiency, while continuous feedback also showed a significant positive relationship. In contrast, decision-making latitude and support did not demonstrate a unique significant effect once clarity and feedback were controlled. The study concludes that, in Albania, operational efficiency depends more on clear guidance and continuous coordination than on autonomy alone.

Keywords: Albania; Continuous Feedback; Delegation; Task Clarity; Time-Based Performance