Question

(a) Explain the following principles of management: (i) Discipline (ii) Unity of direction (iii) Equity

Accepted Answer

Principles of Management: (i) Discipline: ▪ Discipline is the obedience to organisational rules and employment agreement which are necessary for the working of the organisation. ▪ According to Fayol, discipline requires good superiors at all levels, clear and fair agreements and judicious application of penalties. (ii) Unity of direction: ▪ 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 ensuring unity of action and coordination. (iii) Equity: ▪ There should be no discrimination against anyone on account of gender, religion, language, caste, belief or nationality etc. Equal opportunities are available for everyone in such companies to rise. ▪ This principle emphasises kindliness and justice in the behaviour of managers towards workers ensuring loyalty and devotion. Or Q (b) Explain the following points of significance of principles of management: (i) Providing managers with useful insights into reality (ii) Scientific decisions (iii) Meeting changing environment requirements Significance of Principles of Management: (i) Providing managers with useful insights into reality: ▪ Adherence to these principles adds to the knowledge and ability of managers and their understanding of managerial situations and circumstances. ▪ They enable managers to learn from past mistakes and conserve time by solving recurring problems quickly thus increasing efficiency. (ii) Scientific decisions: ▪ Decisions must be based on facts, thoughtful and justifiable in terms of the intended purposes and must be timely, realistic and subject to measurement and evaluation. ▪ Management decisions taken on the basis of principles are free from bias and prejudice and are based on the objective assessment of the situation. (iii) Meeting changing environment requirements: ▪ Although the principles are in the nature of general guidelines but they are modified and help managers to meet changing requirements of the environment. ▪ Management principles are flexible to adapt to dynamic business environment.

Marking-scheme solution

More from Principles of Management