14 ways of achieving Success !!!

Fayol's Administrative Management:

In my previous blog, I have talked about Weber’s Bureaucratic Management Approach. The other important theory which constitutes the part of Classical theory of management is:

Fayol Administrative Management:  focused on improving management efficiency.

Fayol Administrative Management differed from scientific management as it is focused on efficiency through management training and behavioral characteristics.

According to Henri Fayol, there are five functions of management, viz.,

1. Planning
2. Organizing
3. Commanding (Directing)
4. Coordinating and
5. Controlling

Fayol's 14 Principles of Management

Fayol developed 14 principles of management in order to help managers manage their affairs more effectively.  The fourteen principles include:

1. Division of work: In a division of labor, the process is broken down into a no. of stages, and workers are assigned to particular stages. Cooperative labor is specialized into specific, circumscribed tasks, which individuals in specific roles accomplish.  The key points are-

·         Divide work in to specialized tasks and assigned responsibilities to specific individuals.

·         Division of work leads to specialization, and specialization increases efficiency, and efficiency improves the productivity and profitability of the organization.

EXAMPLE:

An example of the division of labor in the workplace is how workers at a candy factory have very particular tasks. One might monitor the caramel, while another monitors the chocolate, and another sees to packaging. When the worker monitoring the caramel no longer sees how his work contributes to the larger product, he is said to be alienated from his labor.

2.  AUTHORITY & RESPONSIBILITY- Authority means power to take decision ,Responsibility means obligation to complete the assign job on time  .The key points are-

·         Delegate authority along with responsibility.

·         There should be a balance between Authority (Power)and Responsibility (Duties)

3. DISCIPLINE- Discipline refers to general rules and regulations of an organization.  It also means developing commitment in the employees towards organization and towards each other.  Discipline is required at every level of organization, not only at a subordinate level. The key points are-

·         Maintain good discipline in order to make expectation clear and punish violators.

·         If there is no self-discipline, then discipline should been forced through penalties, fines, etc.

4. UNITY OF COMMAND-An employee should be responsible to, and also receive orders from only one superior. Any orders by the chief librarian to a professional assistant should be transmitted through an assistant librarian, who is in charge of the section. The key points are-

·         Each employee has one and only one Boss / Commander

·         In other words, a subordinate must report to only one superior."Too many cooks spoil the soup."

5. UNITY OF DIRECTION- 
   1. Unity of command depends on working of staff together properly but unity of directions is provided by means of properly arranging the organization so that there is one head and one plan to make it sure that coordination effort would be achieved. The key points are-
   ·         All activities which have the same objective must be directed by one manager, and he must use one plan.
   ·         Direction also means leading.
   ·         No wastage of resources and efforts of employees
   
   
   

6. SUBORDINATION OF INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS TO GENERAL INTEREST-  Interest of the organization must supersede the interest of individuals. All employees should work towards the interest of an organization. Employees should know that their growth depends upon the company’s growth. The key points are-

·         When at work only the matters related to the job or duties should be focused, pursued and thought.

·         The individual interest should be given less importance, while the general interest should be given most importance.

7. REMUNERATION-Salaries to employees and method of payment should be fair enough comparable to other staff of the parent body with equivalent qualifications. Employees should be given incentives for successful efforts .The key points are-

·         Payments of salaries and incentive for workers in appreciation of their service.

·         This policy should give maximum satisfaction to both employer and employees.

8. CENTRALIZATION- Centralization of administration may be carried out in varying degrees, depending upon the local situation. Anything that increases the importance of the role of a subordinate should be decentralized. On the other hand anything that decreases the importance of the role of a subordinate should be centralized. The key point to know is that decisions are made from the top.
   

9.  SCALAR CHAIN- This principle implies that authority and responsibility should flow in a clear unbroken line from the highest executive to the lowest rank. This refers to hierarchy. A hierarchy consists of a series of steps, extending in an unbroken line from chief librarian to the lowest employee an attendant. This line serves as a mean of communication .The key points are-

·         Scalar chain refers to the number of levels in the hierarchy from the ultimate authority to the lowest level in the organization.

·         Having a formal chain of command from top to bottom.

10. ORDER- Order refers to the best possible arrangement to achieve the most efficient operation of the organization. As regards movement of materials, it would be economical if order section and cataloguing section are located side by side. The key points are-

·         All personnel and materials must have designated place.

·         There should be “a place for everything and everything in its place”, and the "right man in the right place

11. EQUITY- : In dealing with employees treatment of equality must be put into practice. Justice must be combined with friendliness and kindness by those in executive towards staff. Salary scales must be based on education, ability, experience and level of responsibility. The key points are-

·         Equality of treatment without indiscrimination for the gender, creed or ethnicity.

·         Equity creates loyalty and devotion in the employees.

12. STABILITY- Stability of staff is an important factor .Rapid turnover of staff should cause anxiety. In this context it is better to fill up some positions in a library with mediocre persons, who will stay with the library relatively for long periods. At the same time there should be promotion avenues for competent persons .the major objective is to-

·         Ensure the Employee loyalty and longevity.

13. INITIATIVE- : It is essential that initiative of employees must be cultivated and encouraged. Incentives may be offered in this regard. Provision of incentives can stimulate output, leading to greater efficiency and effectiveness. The key points are-

·         Thinking out a plan and do what it takes to make it happen.

·         And management should also encourage others to take   initiative.

14. ESPIRIT DE CORPS- This principle refers to strength in unity, being an extension of principle of unity of command. It Promotes unity of interest between management and employees.

Example: Library administration should create environment which leads to harmony and unity. Equity, initiative, unity of command and leadership qualities of the senior staff can do much to promote esprit de corp.

Conclusions: The principles of management are universally applicable. These are flexible and not absolute. These are applicable regardless of changing conditions. These form basis of scientific management. We all know that a building cannot sustain stability without proper foundation; an organization also cannot be stable in its long run and achieve its long term goals without following these 14 principles of management. Organization and these principles are like complimentary goods which complete each other; one is useless without the other, like car & petrol.