PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

Principle

A principle is a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system
of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning

Principles of Management

Principles of management are broad and general guidelines for managerial decision-making
and behavior. Management principles are not as rigid as principles of science as this deals
with human behavior and thus are to be applied creatively given the demands of the situation.

Nature of Principles of Management

The nature of principles of management are as follows:

1. Universal applicability: Principles of management is applicable in all types of

organizations, business as well as non-business, small as well as large enterprises depending
on the nature of the organisation.
2. General Guidelines: They are general guidelines to action but do not provide straight
solution to all managerial problems, as the business situations are complex and dynamic.

3. Formed by practice and experimentation: They are formed from the knowledge,
experiences and experiments of the managers.
4. Flexible: These principles are not rigid and can be adapted and modified by the practicing
managers depending upon the situation.
5. Mainly Behavioral: Since the principles aim at influencing complex human behavior they
are behavioral in nature.

6. Cause and Effect relationship: They are intend to establish relationship between cause &
effect so that they can be used in various situations.
7. Contingent: Their applicability depends upon the prevailing situation at a particular point
of time. The application has to be changed as per the situation.
Significance of the Principles of Management

1. Providing managers with useful insights into reality: Principles of management guide
managers with useful insights into real world situations, adherence to these principles will
improve their knowledge, ability and understanding of various managerial situations and
 circumstances.
2. Optimum utilization of resources and effective administration: The resources with the
company are limited. Management principles equip the managers to see the cause and
effect of their decisions and actions and thus reduce wastage. Optimum utilization of
resources means maximum benefit with minimum cost.
3. Scientific decisions: Decisions must be based on facts, thoughtful and justifiable in terms
of intended purpose. Management principles must be timely, realistic and subject to
measurement and evaluation. Principles are free from bias and prejudice.

4. Meeting the changing environmental requirements: Management principles are

effective and dynamic and thus help the organization to meet the changing requirements of
the environment.
5. Fulfilling social responsibility: Due to the increased awareness of the public forces all
companies are required to fulfill social responsibilities. Principles of management not only
help in achieving organizational goals but also guide managers in performing social
responsibilities.
6. Management training, education and research: Management principles are the core of
management and are helpful in increasing knowledge, which forms the basis for
management training and research.

Taylor’s Scientific Management

Meaning: It implies conducting of business activities according to standardized tools, methods

and trained personal in order to increase output improve its quality and reduce costs and wastes
through effective and optimum utilization of resources. Hence, it stresses that there is always one
best method to maximize efficiency. This method can be developed through study and analysis.

Principles of Scientific Management

2. Standardization and Simplification of work: Standardization refers to developing standards
for every business activities to maximize output. Whereas simplification refers to eliminating
unnecessary varieties, sizes and grades of products or services. It results in savings of cost of
labour, machines and tools. It leads to fuller utilization of equipment and increase in turnover.
3. Method Study: The objective of method study is to find out one best way of doing the job to
maximize efficiency in the use of resources and to reduce cost of production and to maximizing
quality and satisfaction of customers.
4. Motion Study: Refers to the study of productive movements. It is the science of identifying
and eliminating wasteful movements resulting from unnecessary, incidental and unproductive
motions of the workers so that it takes less time to complete the job efficiently.
5. Time study: It determines the standard time taken to perform a well-defined job. The objective
of time study is to determine the number of workers to be employed, frame suitable incentive
schemes & determine labour costs.

7
6. Fatigue study: Fatigue study seeks to determine time and frequency of rest intervals in
completing a task. The rest interval will enable workers to regain their lost stamina thereby
avoiding accidents, rejections and industrial sickness.
7. Differential piece wage system: This differentiates efficient and inefficient workers and links
wages and productivity. The standard output per day is established and two-piece rates are used:
higher for those who achieve upto and more than standard output i.e. efficient workers and lower
for inefficient and slow workers. Thus, efficient workers will be rewarded & inefficient will be
motivated to improve their performance.

Fayol’s Principles of Management

According to Henri Fayol’s specialization promotes efficiency of the workforce and increases
productivity. In addition, the specialization of the workforce increases their accuracy and speed.
This 14 principles of management is applicable to both technical and managerial activities
Principles of Management developed by Fayol

1. Division of work: Work is divided in small tasks/job and a trained specialist who is
competent enough to perform that job does each work. Thus it leads to greater efficiency,
specialization, increased productivity.
2. Authority and Responsibility: Authority means power to take decisions and
responsibility means obligation to complete the job assigned on time. There should be a
balance between authority and responsibility. Mere responsibility without authority makes
an executive less interested in discharging duties. Similarly, giving authority without
assigning responsibility makes him arrogant and there is fear of misuse of power.

3. Discipline: Is the obedience to organizational rules and employment agreement, which are

necessary for the working of the organisation. Discipline requires good supervisors at all levels,

clear and fair agreements and judicious application of penalties.

8
4. Unity of Command: According to Fayol there should be one and only one boss for every
individual employee. It implies that every worker should receive orders from one superior
only, otherwise it will create confusion, conflict and duplication of work.

5. Unity of Direction: All the units of an organisation should move towards the same objectives
through coordinated and focused efforts. Each group of activities having the same objective must
have one head and one plan. This ensures unity of action and coordination.

Difference between Unity of Command and Unity of Direction

BASIS FOR
UNITY OF COMMAND UNITY OF DIRECTION
COMPARISON

Meaning Unity of command refers to a Unity of direction is a management

principle of management that principle, which implies that all the
states that one should get orders activities with same objective must
from and report to only one boss. have one head and one plan.

Purpose To prevent dual subordination. To prevent duplication of activities.

Implications It effects an individual employee It effects the entire organization

Outcome The principle leads to effective The principle results in coordination

functioning of the subordinates. of work of various employees and
managers.

9
 Relationship Represents relationship between Represents relationship of activities,
superior and subordinate. as per organizational plans and
goals.

Need To fix the responsibility of each For efficient functioning of

person in the organization. organizational activities.

6. Subordination of Individual Interest to general interest: The interest of an organization

should take priority over the interest of any individual employee. In simple words the
organisation interest to be prioritized over individual interest.

7. Remuneration of Employees: The overall pay and compensation should be, fair to both
employees and the organization. The employees should be given fair wages so that they can have
a reasonable standard of living. Wages should be within the paying capacity of the organisation.

8. Centralization and Decentralization: Centralization means concentration of decisions

making authority with some, whereas its dispersal among more than one person is
Decentralization. Both should be balanced, as no organization can be completely centralized
or completely decentralized.

9. Scalar Chain: The formal lines of authority and communication between superiors and
subordinates from the highest to the lowest ranks is known as scalar chain. This chain should not
be violated but in case of emergency employees at same level can contact through Gang Plank by
informing their immediate superiors.

10. Order: According to Fayol “ People and material should be in suitable places at
appropriate time for maximum efficiency”. A place for everything and everyone and
everything and everyone should be in its designated place
10
 11. Equity: Good sense and experience are needed to ensure fairness to all employees who
should be treated as fairly as possible. The working environment of any organization should
be free from all forms of and principles of justice and fair play should be followed. No worker
should be unduly favoured or punished.

12. Stability of Personnel: Employee turnover should be minimized to maintain

organizational efficiency. A personnel should be selected and appointed after rigorous
procedure and the selected person should be kept at the post for a minimum tenure to show
results.

13. Initiative: Workers should be encouraged to develop and carry out their plan for
improvements. Initiative means taking the first step with self-motivation. It is thinking out
and executing the plan.
14. Espirit De Corps: Management should promote team spirit, unity and harmony among
employees.

Fayol versus Taylor

Basis Henry Fayol F.W Taylor

Observations and
Basis of formation Personal Experience experimentation
Improvement in the overall Concentrates on improving the
Focus administration. productivity.
Applicable only to specialized
Applicability Universal applicability situations. Such as in factories

Perspective Top level management Lower level ‐ shop floor level

Researcher and practioner and
was called as ‘father of general Scientist and was called as ‘father
Personality management. of scientific management.
More importance is attached to More importance is given to
increase the production rather human element e.g., principle of
Human element than to the human element. equity, stability of tenure.

11