History Main / DelegationRelay

** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' did this in the first episode where the Borg appeared. A Borg appears on the ship observing, as Picard, most of the command, and a RedShirt watch. Picard orders Worf to deal with it, then Worf turns to the Red Shirt and tells him to deal with it, with predictable results. It's an unusual instance of [[TheWorfEffect Worf]] being GenreSavvy.

* Used in the ''Literature/CrossTimeEngineer'' series to show the size of Conrad Stargard's army when they march out against the Mongol invasion. Conrad gives the order to advance to his three kolomels; it's then passed on to their eighteen barons, their hundred commanders, their six hundred captains, their 3,600 platoons, their 21,000 knights, and their 126,000 soldiers (who of course only say, "Yes sir!").

* ''Film/HomeAlone2LostInNewYork'' did a relay giving Kevin's bag to Kevin, from Mom, to Dad, through all the kids (except for Buzz), down to Fuller...who then starts a Delegation Relay ''back up'' the chain to inform the parents that Kevin missed the flight.

* Used in the ''Cross-Time Engineer'' series to show the size of Conrad Stargard's army when they march out against the Mongol invasion. Conrad gives the order to advance to his three kolomels; it's then passed on to their eighteen barons, their hundred commanders, their six hundred captains, their 3,600 platoons, their 21,000 knights, and their 126,000 soldiers (who of course only say, "Yes sir!").

** This puzzle is supposedly popular at the American military academies, due to the fact that most of the cadets and [[PluckyMiddie midshipmen]] at these academies are traditionally training to be TheEngineer[[note]]The original US MilitaryAcademy, Westpoint, was started as part of a plan to improve coastal fortifications and logistics in the US in order to keep the BritsWithBattleships from invading.[[/note]]. Given this emphasis in academics, many of the cadets were prone to overthinking it, when the best use of their time as an ''officer'' would be to delegate it to an [[OldSoldier NCO]] who probably had years more experience actually ''doing'' just that sort of thing.

*** A third Dilbert example: The PointyHairedBoss gives Dilbert a task. Dilbert says he's too busy, so the boss tells him to delegate it to Alice. She tells the boss she's too busy, so he tells her to delegate to Asok. He's also too busy, and told to delegate it to a random employee. The employee accepts but doesn't mention the fact that he's quitting the next day. The boss thinks "I solved four problems today."

* In one ComicBook/ArchieComics story, Mr. Weatherbee asked Archie to deliver a message to a teacher. Archie delegated the duty to another student, who did likewise, until the chain went to Big Moose... who forgot to do it. Angry at what happened, Weatherbee demanded that Archie deliver another message to another teacher... who's in Africa. The story ends with Archie writing to Weatherbee in the jungle, saying that he should catch up to the teacher's safari in another week or so...

'''Vernon:''' Poke him with your Smelting stick, Dudley.

* In many armed forces, such as those of the US, the officers are expected to be generalists. Highly educated and ([[EnsignNewbie in]] [[TheNeidermeyer theory]]) well trained, but they should not be getting lost in the details of a particular task when they should be looking at the bigger picture. For more specialized job knowledge, they have the enlisted troops and the [[SergeantRock Non Comissioned Officers]], who will often have years of ''practical'' experience, compared to the officers.

** An episode has Mr. Burns order a subordinate that a package must absolutely be mailed today. A Delegation Relay ensues, ultimately ending at Homer, who promptly runs the package back to Mr. Burns's office, who angrily tells Homer that his name is on the ''return'' address.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/{{Eric}}'', during the siege of Tsort, the invading squad unexpectedly discover a small child. The Captain tasks the Lieutenant with guarding the child, who instructs the Sergeant to keep an eye on the kid who tells the Corporal to look after the lad who tells the Private to watch the sprog. The private looks around to see whom he can pass the buck to, and realises that he's the ButtMonkey.
* Another ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' example, in ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'': Captain Vimes tells Sergeant Colon to (force) open a gate. Colon tells Lance-Constable Carrot to open the gate. Carrot knocks gently to ask the people on the other side to open it.
* In MarkTwain's ''Literature/ThePrinceAndThePauper'', this is not actually played for laughs, but rather used as social satire to show how ridiculously overblown royal ceremonies were in Tudor England.

* In one ComicBook/ArchieComics story, Mr. Weatherbee asked Archie to deliver a message to a teacher. Archie delegated the duty to another student, who did likewise, until the chain went to Big Moose�who forgot to do it. Angry at what happened, Weatherbee demanded that Archie deliver another message to another teacher�who's in Africa. The story ends with Archie writing to Weatherbee in the jungle, saying that he should catch up to the teacher's safari in another week or so...

'''Jeremie''': Odd, d�you mind?\\

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* In one ComicBook/ArchieComics story, Mr. Weatherbee asked Archie to deliver a message to a teacher. Archie delegated the duty to another student, who did likewise, until the chain went to Big Moose…who forgot to do it. Angry at what happened, Weatherbee demanded that Archie deliver another message to another teacher…who's in Africa. The story ends with Archie writing to Weatherbee in the jungle, saying that he should catch up to the teacher's safari in another week or so...

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'''Jeremie''': Odd, d’you mind?\\

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* ''Film/CarryOnHenry''. An envoy from the Vatican says that while the Pope is shocked at the idea, a royal divorce can be arranged...for a price. The envoy is asked how much of this money is being skimmed off for his own benefit, which he indignantly denies. As the DelegationRelay brings this message to King Henry the Eighth, each person doubles the price so he can skim half the bribe for himself.

* ''Film/CarryOnHenry''. An envoy from the Vatican says that while the Pope is shocked at the idea, a divorce can be arranged...for a price. The envoy is asked how much of this money is being skimmed off for his own benefit, which he indignantly denies. As the DelegationRelay brings this message to King Henry the Eighth, each person doubles the price so he can skim half the bribe for himself.

* Charlie Chaplin's ''Film/TheGreatDictator'': A huge gun fails to fire properly, and the bullet just drops out of the barrel. The general turns to the colonel and says: "Check the bullet". The colonel turns to the captain and gives the same order. The captain gives the order to the lieutenant. The lieutenant delegates to the private (Chaplin). The private turns to his left... and finds out that there's nobody left to delegate to, so he has to do it himself.

* ''Film/CarryOnHenry''. An envoy from the Vatican says that while the Pope is shocked at the idea, a divorce can be arranged...for a price. The envoy is asked how much of this money is being skimmed off for his own benefit, which he indignantly denies. As the DelegationRelay brings this message to King Henry the Eighth, each person doubles the price so he can skim half the bribe for himself.

* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean: Dead Man's Chest'': "Mind the boat", eventually coming down the parrot, who then passes it on to the mute Mr. Cotton.

* ''BugsyMalone''. "Get Babyface, get Babyface, get Babyface..." and so on down the line until they actually get to Babyface.
* ''HomeAlone 2'' did a relay giving Kevin's bag to Kevin, from Mom, to Dad, through all the kids (except for Buzz), down to Fuller...who then starts a Delegation Relay ''back up'' the chain to inform the parents that Kevin missed the flight.

* ''AshesToAshes'' uses this amongst a group, when faced with acquiring evidence from a chemical toilet. (Played with in that the ''last'' link in the chain, who's dating the guy in front of her, simply rolls her eyes and tells him to get on with it.)
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' did this in the first episode where the Borg appeared. A Borg appears on the ship observing, as Picard, most of the command, and a RedShirt watch. Picard orders Worf to deal with it, then Worf turns to the Red Shirt and tells him to deal with it, with predictable results. It's an unusual instance of [[TheWorfEffect Worf]] being GenreSavvy.

* ''TheYoungOnes'' use this when someone has to answer the door.

*** Yet another Dilbert example, Dilbert's company is out-sourcing their customer support jobs to Asia but the company they outsourced to outsourced it to a different country going on until it was eventually outsourced back to Dilbert's company who underbids everyone else and lies about hold times. The Boss's solution to this? Raise their prices.

* One episode of the ''WesternAnimation/{{X-Men}}'' animated series had Magneto and Mystique turn on Apocalypse. In an example of the "for extra fun" variation, the incredibly powerful Apocalypse summons all his henchmen, then tells the reasonably powerful Mr Sinister to kill them. Sinister then delegates this task to Vertigo, whose only power is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin giving people vertigo.]]
* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has Mr. Burns order a subordinate that a package must absolutely be mailed today. A Delegation Relay ensues, ultimately ending at Homer, who promptly runs the package back to Mr. Burns's office, who angrily tells Homer that his name is on the ''return'' address.

* The third episode of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'': Optimus leaves Arcee in charge of the team (including the humans) while he and Ratchet leave on a mission. Arcee promptly goes off on patrol with Bumblebee and leaves Bulkhead in charge. Repeat until there are only two kid sidekicks left in the entire base.
-->'''Jack''':...You're in charge.
-->'''Raf''': In charge of who?

* Happens in ''FoxTrot'' when Andy asks Peter to take the garbage. Peter says that Paige owes him a favour so that Andy should ask her. Paige says that Jason owes her a favour so Andy should ask him. Jason says that Peter owes him a favour so Andy should ask him. Andy asks Peter (again) who then willingly takes out the garbage.