Which is not the objective of scientific management?
a. Mental change
b. Proper selection
c. Best method of doing work
d. Reduce labor turnover
✔ Answer
d. Reduce labor turnover
Science not rule of thumb means:
a. To replace old methods of doing work
b. Mutual corporation
c. Discipline
d. None of the above
✔ Answer
a. To replace old methods of doing work
From the set of statements given in column one and column two choose the correct pair of statements:
Column I
A. Order
B. Stability of Personnel
C. Harmony not discord
Column II
i. Employee turnover should be minimized to maintain organizational efficiency.
ii. Management should promote a team spirit of unity and harmony among employees.
iii. There should be a place for everything and everyone.
a. A-iii, B-i, C-ii
b. A-i, B-ii, C-iii
c. A-ii, B-iii, C-i
d. A-i, B-iiii, C-ii
✔ Answer
a. A-iii, B-i, C-ii
One _______ and one _______ for a group of activities having the objective is principle of unity of direction.
a. Men, Money
b. Boss, Subordinate
c. Money, Material
d. Head, Plan
✔ Answer
d. Head, Plan
‘The principle of order’ is concerned with:
a. Justice and kindness
b. Gang plank
c. A place for everything and everything at its place
d. One boss and one subordinate
✔ Answer
c. A place for everything and everything at its place
Scientific management:
a. Adopting hit and trial method
b. Eliminates rule of thumb approach
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. None (a) and (b)
✔ Answer
b. Eliminates rule of thumb approach
After finishing her BBA degree course, Tanya gets a job of Assistant Manager in a retail company through the reference of her cousin Taruna who works in the same company as a senior manager. Taruna decided to guide Tanya through the experience by making her aware of the important facts about management in practice. She tells her that the principles of management does not provide any ready-made solution to all management problems rather it only guides them in taking decision.
Identify the features of principles of management mentioned in the above paragraph.
a. General guidelines
b. Universal applicability
c. Flexible
d. All of these
✔ Answer
a. General guidelines
Mental revolution means:
a. Cooperation
b. Harmony
c. Integration
d. All of the above
✔ Answer
d. All of the above
Which principle is being highlighted? (diagrammatic representation of team spirit)
🤝 👥 👥 🤝
a. Esprit de corps
b. Discipline
c. Order
d. Unity of command
✔ Answer
a. Esprit de corps
Assertion (A): Management principles have to be modified as per the changes in the business environment.
Reason (R): Principles of management are rigid like pure sciences principles.
a. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
b. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
c. (A) is True but (R) is False
d. (A) is False but (R) is True
✔ Answer
c. (A) is True but (R) is False · (Principles are flexible, not rigid)
Vaibhav Sharma was working as the Production Manager in Crescent Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. To get his son admitted in school, he wanted to take leave from the office, but on the same day, an important meeting with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company was scheduled to discuss about some new medicines to be manufactured. Considering the significance of the meeting, he did not take leave. The CEO appreciated his exemplary behavior as he gave priority to the organizational interest over his personal interest.
Name the principle of management being followed by Vaibhav Sharma. Explain the principle in detail.
✔ Answer
Subordination of personal interest over organizational interest
This principle states that the interests of the organization should take priority over the interests of any one individual employee. Managers and workers should align their personal goals with the organization’s objectives. When there is a conflict between personal and organizational interests, the organization's interest must prevail. This ensures harmony, loyalty, and collective success.
“There should be an almost equal division of work and responsibility between workers and management.” Do you agree? Give reasons in support of your answer.
✔ Answer
Equity – This refers to the principle of fairness, justice, and kindness in dealing with employees. Managers should be fair and impartial while dealing with subordinates. Equal division of work and responsibility ensures that both workers and management contribute equally to the organization's success, fostering trust and cooperation.
Explain, giving reasons, whether the following statements are true/false:
A. To motivate the workers ‘Differential Piece Wage System’ should be implemented.
B. Management principles are rigid as principles of pure science.
✔ Answer
A. True – Differential Piece Wage System rewards efficient workers with higher wages, motivating them to perform better.
B. False – Management principles are flexible and not rigid like pure sciences. They can be modified according to the situation.
“Principles of management are mainly behavioral in nature.” Do you agree? Give reasons.
✔ Answer
Yes, I agree. The principles of management are mainly behavioral in nature as they aim to influence complex human behavior. They establish cause-and-effect relationships and are intended to be used in similar situations. They guide managers in handling people effectively, motivating them, and creating a positive work environment.
Ritika Kapoor, the CEO of Mobilo limited firmly believes in providing fair wages to the employees, superior value to the customer, care for the environment and honest dealings with business associates. She also believes that for greater productivity, work should be divided into small tasks and each employee should be trained to perform his/her specialised job. This principle is applicable to a government office where there is a dairy/dispatch clerk whose job is to receive and send mail or documents, a data entry operator whose task is to input data on the computer, a peon and officer etc. This principle is also applicable to a limited company where there are separate departments like production, finance, marketing and research and development (R&D) etc.
A. “…believes in providing fair wages to the employees, superior value to the customer, care for the environment and honest dealings with business associates.” Identify the general principle of management followed here.
B. Identify the point of importance of management principles highlighted above.
C. “… For greater productivity, work should be divided into small tasks and each employee should be trained to perform his/her specialized job.” Identify the principle of management highlighted here.
D. Identify the characteristics of principles of management highlighted in the above para.
✔ Answer
A. Equity
B. Principles of management help in fulfilling social responsibility.
C. Division of work
D. Universal applicability
Define principles of management. Explain any three points highlighting the significance of principles of management.
✔ Answer
Principles of management are the broad and general guidelines for managerial decision-making and action. They are derived from observation and experimentation.
Significance:
- They provide managers with useful insights into real-world situations.
- They help in optimum utilization of resources.
- They help managers in scientific/thoughtful decision making.
- They help in fulfilling social responsibility.
What contradiction do you find in the principle of ‘Unity of Command’ and the technique of ‘Functional Foremanship’ and why?
✔ Answer
Fayol's principle of Unity of Command states that there should be one and only one boss for every individual employee.
Taylor's technique of Functional Foremanship suggests that there should be four foremen for planning and four foremen for execution, meaning a worker would receive orders from multiple foremen.
This is a contradiction because Unity of Command insists on a single superior, while Functional Foremanship requires multiple specialists giving instructions to the same worker.
Fayol and Taylor both have contributed immensely to the knowledge of management, which has become a basis for further practice by managers. Taylor thought that by scientifically analyzing work it would be possible to find ‘one best way’ to do it. He is most remembered for his time and motion studies and functional foremanship. He said that the best result would come from the partnership between a trained and qualified management and a cooperative and innovative workforce. Fayol explained what amounts to a manager's work and what principles should be followed in doing this work.
In the light of the above discussion, differentiate between the contribution of Taylor and Fayol on the following basis:
a) Perspective b) Unity of command c) Focus d) Expression e) Applicability f) Basis of formation
✔ Answer
| Basis |
F.W. Taylor |
Henri Fayol |
| Perspective |
Shop floor / operational level |
Top management / general |
| Unity of command |
Violated (Functional Foremanship) |
Strictly followed |
| Focus |
Increasing productivity & efficiency |
Improving overall administration |
| Expression |
Scientific management |
Principles of management |
| Applicability |
Specific to production/operational situations |
Universal applicability |
| Basis of formation |
Observation and experimentation |
Personal experience and observation |
Explain the technique of “Functional Foremanship” and the concept of “Mental Revolution” as enunciated by Taylor.
✔ Answer
Functional Foremanship: Taylor suggested that a single foreman cannot be an expert in all areas. He proposed that there should be
eight foremen in total:
- Four for planning: Route clerk, Instruction card clerk, Time and cost clerk, Disciplinarian.
- Four for execution: Gang boss, Speed boss, Repair boss, Inspector.
This ensures that each worker gets specialized guidance from experts in different areas.
Mental Revolution: It refers to a complete change in the mindset of both workers and management. It involves:
- Workers cooperating with management instead of being hostile.
- Management sharing the benefits of increased productivity with workers.
- Both parties working together for mutual prosperity.
Vignesh completed his MBA at a reputed Business School in Lucknow. He was impressed by the principles and techniques of scientific management developed by F.W. Taylor. On completing his MBA, he wanted to apply scientific management in his family's business of fast-food chain of restaurants named ‘Burger Mania’.
His main goal was to reduce costs which increased output. To begin with, he wanted to develop a standard method which would be followed throughout the organisation. He investigated traditional methods through work study and unified the best practices. The standard method, i.e. the best way of doing the job was then developed taking into account all parameters right from the procurement of raw materials till the delivery of the final product to the customer. Vignesh also believed that each person should not only be scientifically selected but should also be given the required training to increase efficiency. For this, he set up a special training unit called ‘Hamburger’ in Bengaluru where the workers were given the required training to increase efficiency. At ‘Hamburger’ workers were given the required training to learn the best method. At the factory, the ingredients making up a burger were strategically placed to reduce the time taken for excess movements. The Standard Time and other parameters were determined on the basis of work study and Vignesh rewarded the workers for meeting the standard output.
Now, ‘Burger Mania’ has standardized process, raw material, time, machinery, product and working conditions that ensured the food they send out to their customers as the same high standards of excellence and level of quality in every chain of franchisee.
A. The application of scientific management to every aspect of restaurant operations led to Burger Mania’s widespread success.
B. Quoting the lines from the above, explain the principles and techniques of scientific management used by ‘Burger Mania’.
✔ Answer
Science, not rule of thumb: “To begin with ………. best practices.”
Development of each person to greatest efficiency: “Vignesh also believed …… increase efficiency.”
Method study: “The standard …… to the customer.”
Motion study: “At the factory …… movements.”
Time study: “The standard time …… work study.”
Standardization of work: “Now, ‘Burger Mania’ …… franchise.”