Question

(a) Explain the following principles of management: (i) Division of work (ii) Unity of command (iii) Esprit de corps

Accepted Answer

Principles of Management: (i) Division of Work: ▪ The principle of Division of work suggests that work can be performed more efficiently if it is divided into specialised tasks. The intent of division of work is to produce more and better work for the same effort. ▪ A trained specialist who is competent, is required to perform each job leading to specialization which results in efficient and effective output. (ii) Unity of Command: ▪ The principle of unity of command states that each employee in an organisation should receive orders from and be responsible to only one superior. ▪ There should be one and only one boss for every individual employee. It prevents confusion regarding tasks to be done. (iii) Esprit De Corps: ▪ The principle of Esprit De Corps states that the management should promote a team spirit of unity and harmony among employees otherwise objectives would be difficult to realise. ▪ This will give rise to a spirit of mutual trust and belongingness among team members and will minimise the need for using penalties. Or Q (b). Explain the following features of principles of management: (i) Universal applicability (ii) General guidelines (iii) Flexible Features of Principles of Management: (i) Universal applicability: ▪ 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. ▪ However, the extent of their applicability would vary with the nature of the organisation, business activity, scale of operations and the like. (ii) General guidelines: ▪ The principles are guidelines to action but do not provide readymade, straitjacket solutions to all managerial problem because real business situations are very complex and dynamic and are a result of many factors. ▪ However, the importance of principles cannot be underestimated because even a small guideline helps to solve a given problem. (iii) Flexible: ▪ The principles of management are not rigid prescriptions, which have to followed absolutely. ▪ They are flexible and can be modified by the manager when the situation so demands.

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