Principles of Management Test - 1

Time study is one of the work study techniques given by F.W. Taylor where as Espirit De Corps, Scalar chain and Unity of command are principles given by Henri Fayol.

Fredrick Winslow Taylor (March 20,1856 – March 21, 1915) was an American mechanical engineer. He died in 1915 due to pneumonia.

• Taylor advocated separation of planning and execution functions in functional foremanship.
• Under the factory manager there was a planning incharge and a production incharge.
• Those with technical mastery, intelligence and grit may be given planning work.
• Those with energy and good health may be assigned execution work.
• It leads to specialisation.

The principles of management are formed by experience and collective wisdom of managers as well as experimentation.For example, it is a matter of common experience that discipline is indispensable for accomplishing any purpose.

Esprit de corps is a French phrase that translates into 'group spirit'. It is one of the principles of Henri Fayol.Management should promote a team spirit of unity and harmony among employees, according to Fayol

According to F.W. Taylor scientific method should be used to analyse methods of production prevalent under the rule of thumb.

The best practices can be kept and further refined to develop a standard which should be followed throughout the organisation.

This can be done through work-study techniques developed by taylor which include time study, motion study, fatigue study and method study.

Science, not rule of thumb, this principle was given by F.W.Taylor.

• Taylor believed that there was only one best method to maximise efficiency.
• This method can be developed through study and analysis.
• The method so developed should substitute ‘Rule of Thumb’ throughout the organisation.
• Scientific method involved investigation of traditional methods through work-study, unifying the best practices and developing a standard method, which would be followed throughout the organisation.

Unity of direction is concerned with one head one plan because:

• All the units of an organisation should be moving towards the same objectives through coordinated and focussed efforts.
• Each group of activities having the same objective must have one head and one plan.
• This ensures unity of action and coordination.
• For example, if a company is manufacturing motorcycles as well as cars then it should have two separate divisions for both of them. Each division should have its own incharge, plans and execution resources.

Henry Fayol was a mining engineer.

He graduated from the mining academy of St. Etienne in 1860 in mining engineering.

The19 year old engineer started the mining company ‘Compagnie de commentary-Fourchambean Decazeville, ultimately acting as its managing director from 1888 to 1918.

Principles of management are not absolute rather than they are :

Flexible - Principles of management are not rigid as these can be modified as per the situation.

Universal applicable -  The principles of management are intended to apply to all types of organisations, business as well as non-business, small as well large, public sector as well as private sector, manufacturing as well as the services sectors.

Mainly behavioural - Management principles aim at influencing behaviour of human beings. Therefore, principles of management are mainly behavioural in nature.