If a member who owns multiple groups leaves an organization, what is the correct order of steps for an administrator to follow?

The correct process for an administrator when a member who owns multiple groups leaves an organization starts with disabling the member's access. This step ensures that the member can no longer use their account or make any changes that could affect organizational data. By doing this first, the administrator can securely manage the member's belongings without the risk of any potential disruptions.

Next, transferring items and groups that the member owned is essential because it ensures that all resources, including maps, layers, and groups, are still accessible and managed by other organization members. This step helps maintain continuity and prevents data loss or confusion regarding ownership of important resources. Lastly, deleting the member's account can occur after these steps have been completed. This order protects the organization's data integrity and ensures a smooth transition of responsibilities without interruption.

This sequence effectively manages access and ownership issues, which is why it is regarded as the best practice for handling such situations in ArcGIS Online administration. The other options do not follow this logical progression and could lead to complications in data management and continuity.