Method for managing shared accounts in an identity management system

This disclosure describes a method of and system for provisioning of shared account credentials to provide authorized access to shared or delegated accounts. Preferably, an enterprise single sign-on (E-SSO) system is used to manage the shared account or control delegation of account access, and preferably the shared or delegated account credential is not exposed to the end user. The described technique enables temporary delegation of account privileges to a member of a shared role. Using the described approach, an information technology (IT) account may be shared so that a user who needs to perform a shared duty can do so in the context of a shared role and without having control over the account itself. The approach facilitates delegating the use of a single account to one of a member of the shared role.