Which of the following best describes the role of employees in a Self-Directed Team?

In a Self-Directed Team, employees are indeed empowered to make decisions about their work. This empowerment is a key characteristic of such teams, where members take on a collective responsibility for both the outcome of their work and the process they use to achieve it. They are given the autonomy to manage their own tasks, set goals, and solve problems, which fosters a sense of ownership and increases motivation and engagement.

This approach is often utilized in organizations that emphasize collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, as it allows teams to react more flexibly to challenges and opportunities. By involving employees in decision-making, self-directed teams encourage diverse perspectives and enhance the team’s performance, leading to improved quality and productivity in their outputs.

The other options represent more traditional roles within a workforce where authority and decision-making are typically centralized with management, limiting the employees' engagement and contribution to the processes they are involved in.