Fayol’s principles of management

Correct answer: A. Subordination of individual interest to general interest

A branch’s local target should not take priority over the organisation’s broader responsibilities and interests, including protecting customer privacy. This reflects the principle that narrower interests should be subordinated to the general interest.

Correct answer: B. Paying capacity and fair wage structure

The direct answer is B, paying capacity and a fair wage structure. Remuneration means the payment employees receive for their work. Fayol’s idea is not simply to pay as little as possible or to follow a manager’s personal preference. Step by step: employees should feel satisfied and fairly treated; the organisation must be able to afford the payment; wages should be decided through a reasonable and fair structure; therefore both paying capacity and fairness must be considered. Option B is correct because it includes both practical affordability and justice. Option A is wrong because a senior’s personal preference is not an objective basis for wages. Option C, decoration of materials, has no relation to employee compensation. Option D, length of the scalar chain, concerns the number of authority levels and does not determine fair pay. A useful reminder is “fair to employee and employer”: remuneration must motivate workers without making the organisation financially unstable. The supplied answer is correct.

Correct answer: C. Centralisation and decentralisation

The situation calls for balancing centralisation with decentralisation. Some central direction can support consistent policies, while appropriate delegation lets branches respond to local needs.

Correct answer: A. A permitted direct communication shortcut between employees at the same level, with their superiors informed, while respecting the scalar chain

A gang plank is a permitted shortcut for direct communication between employees at the same level when this speeds up work. Keeping the relevant superiors informed allows communication to be quicker without abandoning the scalar chain.

Correct answer: A. Order

Fayol’s principle of order covers both social order—having the right person in the right place—and material order—having materials where they are needed.

Correct answer: B. Remuneration

The remuneration principle concerns providing employees with fair and satisfactory compensation. Fair treatment relates to equity, but the stated problem is inadequate pay, so remuneration is the direct issue.

Correct answer: A. Applying stability blindly is wrong

Stability of tenure discourages unnecessary turnover; it does not require keeping an employee in a role indefinitely regardless of performance. The principle should be applied sensibly, including efforts to improve performance and assess suitability.

Correct answer: A. Initiative and subordination of individual interest to general interest

Offering a constructive suggestion shows initiative. Putting the organisation’s long-term reputation ahead of personal gain illustrates subordination of individual interest to general interest.

Correct answer: A. Emphasising team goals and shared achievements

A message that stresses shared goals and achievements encourages unity and a sense of belonging to the team. This is the meaning of esprit de corps in Fayol’s principles.

Correct answer: B. Coordination and a shared sense of direction

Division of work can improve efficiency, but employees’ efforts also need to be coordinated toward common organisational objectives. Coordination and shared direction address the problem without discarding specialisation.

Correct answer: C. Balance between centralisation and decentralisation

Delegation gives subordinates authority to act within agreed limits. If the manager overrides every decision, that authority is only nominal, so there is no meaningful balance between centralisation and decentralisation.

Correct answer: A. Remuneration and stability of personnel

Remuneration concerns fair compensation, while stability of personnel concerns retaining employees and avoiding excessive turnover. Fair pay can support retention, linking these two principles.

Correct answer: B. Equity

Equity calls for fairness and kind treatment in dealings with employees. Discipline does not justify insulting or unfair treatment.

Correct answer: C. Use the gang plank

The gang plank allows employees at the same level in different chains to communicate directly when needed, subject to the proper superior’s approval. It can reduce delay while preserving the scalar chain.

Correct answer: B. Authority and responsibility

Order concerns placing people and resources appropriately. Clear accountability also requires authority to be matched with responsibility, so employees know both what they may decide and what results they are answerable for.

Correct answer: B. Initiative and esprit de corps

The employee’s proposal reflects initiative, which encourages people to think and act. The team’s cooperation reflects esprit de corps, or team spirit.

Correct answer: B. These are general guidelines that can also be useful in modern settings

Fayol’s principles address general aspects of organising and managing work, such as roles, communication and team spirit. They can therefore guide a modern online organisation when applied with attention to its context.

Correct answer: A. Balancing work, authority, discipline, fairness, order and team spirit according to the situation

Fayol’s principles are management guidelines, not isolated punishment rules. Applying them thoughtfully means balancing relevant principles in light of the situation.

Correct answer: A. Initiative and esprit de corps

Team spirit is important but employee initiative should not be suppressed. In exams identify balance between team spirit and initiative.