In the last article, it was discussed that for a manager to effectively discharge their duties, they must possess certain personal qualities and understand the various elements of their operational environments. The absence of any of these will negatively affect job performance.
The principles of management refer to a set of guidelines applied in an organization for managing people and materials to ensure effective job performance.
Two principles will be discussed in this article:
- Frederick W. Taylor’s principles, and
- Henri Fayol’s principles.
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Frederick W. Taylor’s Principles of Managemet
Frederick W. Taylor viewed management as a pure science based on principles and theories. To him, the failure of firms can be attributed to inefficiency caused by poor management. He advanced the following principles:
- Cooperation between management and workers to meet organizational objectives.
- Scientific training of workers.
- Careful and scientific selection of the workforce.
- Clear and unambiguous determination of each worker’s responsibilities and areas of operation.
- Equitable distribution of responsibilities between workers and managers, with managers responsible for organization, planning, and supervision.
Shortcomings of Taylor’s Principles of Management
While Taylor’s principles lead to efficiency at the firm level, they have been criticized for:
i. Being too limited to restricted domains, and
ii. Failing to recognize management as both an art and a science.
Henri Fayol’s Principles of Management
Henri Fayol was a French industrialist whose book “General and Industrial Management”, first published in 1916, distinguished between the elements and principles of management. He also identified the attributes of a good manager, which include:
- Good physical fitness,
- Integrity and a good attitude toward business,
- Mental stability and vigor,
- Sound education, and
- High level of experience.
In his book, Fayol also identified the roles performed in a business enterprise, including:
- Managerial activities,
- Technical or production activity,
- Commercial activity,
- Accounting and statistics,
- Financial activity, and
- Security operations and protection.
Fayol is now recognized as the Father of modern management due to the general adaptability of his principles. The 14 principles of management proposed by Fayol have been adopted across various sectors as basic guidelines for effective management of human resources.
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Fayol’s 14 Principles of Management
1. Division of Work: Workers should be assigned specific roles that fit into the organization’s overall goals. This leads to a deep sense of responsibility and efficiency in job performance.
2. Matching Authority and Responsibility: Assigned responsibilities must be balanced by corresponding authority. Without authority, it will be difficult for workers to carry out their responsibilities.
3. Discipline: This principle outlines acceptable behavior and the consequences for violating rules and regulations. Agribusiness managers must clearly communicate these rules and apply them to instill discipline. This can be done formally or informally.
4. Unity of Command: Each worker should report to only one supervisor, ensuring clarity and avoiding confusion in the chain of command.
5. Unity of Direction: The entire organization should have one leader who directs the activities, goals, and policies.
6. Subordination of Personal Interest to the General Interest: The interests of individual workers must be subordinated to the organization’s overall goals. Workers are required to sacrifice personal interests for the organization’s benefit.
7. Remuneration: Worker compensation must be fair, known, and based on their level of effort and productivity. Fair remuneration is essential for achieving high organizational efficiency.
8. Centralization: All activities and ideas should align with the central command of the organization to ensure consistency with its goals.
9. Scalar Chain: A clear chain of management should exist for making decisions and communicating them effectively throughout the organization.
10. Order: This principle ensures that people, ideas, and materials have clearly defined roles and are positioned appropriately in the organization.
11. Equity: Fair treatment and equal application of rules and sanctions are essential for maintaining worker morale and fairness within the organization.
12. Stability of Tenure: Providing a clear career structure and security for workers encourages long-term commitment to the organization’s goals.
13. Initiative: Workers should be encouraged to contribute new ideas and take initiative within the organization’s framework to improve processes and outcomes.
14. Esprit De Corps: Promoting teamwork, mutual respect, and a sense of unity is essential for achieving collective goals and enhancing organizational harmony.
The principles of management provide essential guidelines for managers to ensure effective job performance and business success. Due to their general adaptability, Fayol’s 14 principles have become widely recognized as the most reliable framework across various sectors, including agriculture, for managing human resources effectively.
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