{EARLY
MANAGEMENT THEORY}
INTRODUCTION:
Today's managers have access to
an amazing array of resources which they can use to improve their skills. But
what about those managers who were leading the way forward 100 years ago?
Managers in the early 1900s had
very few external resources to draw upon to guide and develop their management
practice. But thanks to early theorists like Henri Fayol (1841-1925), managers
began to get the tools they needed to lead and manage more effectively. Fayol and
others like him are responsible for building the foundations of modern
management theory.
BACKGROUND:
Henri Fayol was born in Istanbul in 1841. When he was 19, he began working as an engineer at a large
mining company in France. He eventually became the director, at a time when the
mining company employed more than 1,000 people.
Through the years, Fayol began
to develop what he considered to be the 14 most important principles of
management. Essentially, these explained how managers should organize and interact
with staff.
In 1916, two years before he
stepped down as director, he published his "14 Principles of
Management" in the book "Administration Industrielle et
Generale." Fayol also created a list of the six primary functions of
management, which go hand in hand with the Principles.
Fayol's "14
Principles" was one of the earliest theories of management to be created,
and remains one of the most comprehensive. He's considered to be among the most
influential contributors to the modern concept of management, even though
people don't refer to "The 14 Principles" often today.
The theory falls under the Administrative Management school of thought (as opposed to the Scientific
Management School, led by Fredrick Taylor). (Source
–wiki)
FAYOL'S
14 PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT ARE LISTED BELOW:
1. DIVISION OF WORK: When employees are specialized, output can increase because they become increasingly
skilled and efficient.
2. AUTHORITY: Managers must
have the authority to give orders, but they must also keep in mind that with
authority comes responsibility.
3. DISCIPLINE: Discipline must
be upheld in organizations, but methods for doing so can vary.
4. UNITY OF COMMAND: Employees should have only one direct
supervisor.
5. UNITY OF DIRECTION: Teams
with the same objective should be working under the direction of one manager,
using one plan. This will ensure that action is properly coordinated.
6. SUBORDINATION OF INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS TO THE GENERAL INTEREST: The interests of one employee should not be
allowed to become more important than those of the group. This includes
managers.
7. REMUNERATION: Employee
satisfaction depends on fair remuneration for everyone. This includes financial
and non-financial compensation.
8. CENTRALIZATION: This
principle refers to how close employees are to the decision-making process. It
is important to aim for an appropriate balance.
9. SCALAR CHAIN: Employees should be aware of where they stand in the organization's hierarchy, or chain
of command.
10. ORDER: The workplace
facilities must be clean, tidy and safe for employees. Everything should have
its place.
11. EQUITY: Managers should be
fair to staff at all times, both maintaining discipline as necessary and acting
with kindness where appropriate.
12. STABILITY OF TENURE OF
PERSONNEL: Managers should strive to
minimize employee turnover. Personnel planning should be a priority.
13. INITIATIVE: Employees should be given the necessary level of freedom to create and carry out plans.
14. ESPRIT DE CORPS: Organizations should strive to
promote team spirit and unity.
Thus,
Henri Fayol's “14 Principles of
Management” have been a significant influence on modern management theory. His
practical list of principles helped early 20th century managers learn how to
organize and interact with their employees in a productive way.
Although the 14 Principles
aren't widely used today, they can still offer guidance for today's managers.
Many of the principles are now considered to be common sense, but at the time
they were revolutionary concepts for organizational management.
FAYOL'S
SIX PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT:
1. Planning.
2. Organizing.
3. Commanding.
4. Coordinating.
5. Controlling.
1.
PLANNING:
Managers must plan for future conditions, develop strategic objectives and secure the achievement of future
goals. Therefore, managers must evaluate future contingencies affecting the
organization, and shape the future operational and strategic landscape of the
company.
2.
ORGANIZING:
Managers must organize the
workforce in an efficient manner and structure and align the activities of the
organization. Managers must also train and recruit the right people for the
job, and always secure a sufficiently skilled and educated workforce.
3.
COMMANDING:
Managers must supervise subordinates in their daily work, and inspire them to achieve company goals.
Likewise it is the responsibility of managers to communicate company goals and
policies to subordinates. The commanding of subordinates should always be
consistent with company policies, and every manager should treat subordinates
in line with the standards of the company.
4.
COORDINATING:
Managers must harmonize the
procedures and activities performed by the company, meaning that every activity
of each organizational unit should complement and enrich the work of another.
5.
CONTROLLING:
Managers must control that company activities are in line with general company policies and objectives. It
is also the responsibility of the manager to observe and report deviations from
plans and objectives, and to make initiatives to correct potential deviations.
Hence,
The five functions theory of Henri
Fayol is a very normative and functional view on management, and the theory
might not fully convey the managerial complexities faced by managers in their
daily work. As such, Henry Fayol’s five functions focus very little on informal
relationships between managers and subordinates, and do not touch very much
upon how to develop and maintain a motivated workforce.
Source:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) notes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Fayol
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