Fayol’s principles of management

Focusing on specialised work improves efficiency and quality. In exams link quality fall due to too many tasks with division of work.

Adequate authority is needed to fulfil responsibility. In exams connect target without authority with authority and responsibility.

Discipline is not only for subordinates but for the whole organisation. In exams connect rule compliance by all with discipline.

An employee should receive orders from one superior only. In exams treat two sources of orders as unity of command violation.

Activities with the same objective should have one plan and one head. In exams link same objective separate plans with unity of direction.

Private gain should not be above the general interest of the firm. In exams link personal commission harming firm with general interest.

Remuneration should be fair and satisfactory. In exams connect pay structure with remuneration.

Excessive centralisation can reduce decision speed. In exams connect even small decisions going to the top with centralisation.

Gang plank is a route for quick communication between same levels. In exams connect emergency direct contact with gang plank.

Order keeps every thing and person at the right place. In exams connect fixed place with order.

Equity is based on balance of justice and kindness. In exams link fairness with firmness to equity.

Stability of personnel preserves experience and efficiency. In exams treat frequent shifting as against stability principle.

Initiative gives employees freedom to plan and suggest. In exams connect employee suggestion with initiative.

Esprit de corps increases team spirit and unity. In exams connect stopping groupism with this principle.

Fayol’s fourteen principles provide broad guidance for managers in organising work and making decisions; they are not fixed laws that must be applied identically in every situation. Their application requires judgement because the size, nature and circumstances of organisations differ. Therefore, option C is correct. A common confusion is to assume that every principle must be followed in exactly the same way, but that would wrongly make them rigid laws. Exam tip: remember Fayol’s principles as flexible general guidelines.

One superior may satisfy unity of command but same objective needs one plan. In exams keep one boss and one plan separate.

Division of specialised tasks improves efficiency and accuracy. In exams connect specialised roles with division of work.

Authority and responsibility should be equal. In exams treat authority with accountability as correct.

The direct answer is C, Equity. Discipline requires a clear punishment policy and obedience to rules, but applying that policy differently to different people creates a second problem: unfair treatment. Fayol’s principle of equity asks managers to be kind, fair, and impartial toward employees. The reasoning is: the rule exists for discipline; punishment is not given equally; employees in similar situations therefore receive unequal treatment; unequal treatment violates equity. Option A, Division of work, concerns assigning specialised tasks to improve efficiency, not fairness in punishment. Option B, Scalar chain, is the formal authority and communication line, so it is unrelated to equal application of a penalty. Option C is correct because the central issue is fairness and equal treatment. Option D, Centralisation, concerns the distribution of decision-making authority, not whether discipline is applied fairly. Remember: a clear rule may support Discipline, but biased or unequal treatment points to a violation of Equity.

Opposite orders from two superiors create confusion. In exams connect opposite instructions from two heads with unity of command.

One plan for activities with the same objective is unity of direction. In exams connect common training objective with unity of direction.

Departmental interest should not be above general organisational interest. In exams link departmental selfishness with general interest.

Equity relates to treatment and justice while remuneration relates to pay. In exams keep fair pay and fair treatment separate.

Fayol believed in balance of authority distribution according to situation. In exams connect strategic at top and routine below with balance.

Scalar chain maintains formal line of authority. In exams connect formal hierarchy with scalar chain.