Lists differ, but the useful split is by what you hand over. A task: one piece of work with a clear result. A project: a set of tasks with a goal and a date. A decision: the authority to choose, within limits. A role: ongoing ownership of an area. Each type needs a different brief and a different check-in. Treating a role like a task is how good people get micromanaged.
The four types
Task. "Write the Q3 summary for the client by Thursday." Brief: result, audience, must-haves, done checks. Check-in: when the finished work is ready.
Project. "Run the website refresh through launch in June." Brief: the goal, the budget, the dates, what is out of scope. Check-in: at milestones, agreed in advance.
Decision. "You choose the vendor; stay under $20,000; tell me what you picked." Brief: the limits and the information needed. Check-in: after the decision, not before.
Role. "You own client reporting from now on." Brief: the outcomes the role is responsible for and the standards. Check-in: a regular review of results, monthly or quarterly.
Why the type matters
A task gets reviewed when it lands. A role reviewed that way is micromanagement. A decision checked before it is made is not delegated at all. Naming the type tells both people what the check-in will look like, which prevents most of the friction.
Where M-Tracker fits
M-Tracker handles tasks and projects directly. Each task has a brief and is checked against it when the work is sent. Projects group tasks with milestones, due dates and members, and show remaining against delivered. A delegated role is usually a stream of tasks and projects, so the record of briefs and reviews becomes the monthly review of that role, without a separate process.
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Questions people ask
Can a decision be delegated without a task?
Yes. "You decide the venue" is a delegation with no work attached to you at all.
Which type should a new manager start with?
Tasks. Then projects. Decisions and roles follow as trust is earned in both directions.
What are the other "four types" people list?
Some split by direction: downward, upward, lateral and outsourced. Useful for thinking about who; the list above is about what.
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