13.4 THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO BE A GREAT BOSS: Henri Fayol's Principles of Management

(SHORT NOTES FROM TEAM MANAGEMENT:

Historical Management Theories at http://www.mindtools.com)

 

Henri Fayol was born in Istanbul in 1841.  He began working as an engineer at the age of 19 in 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.  The theory falls under the Administrative Management school of thought (as opposed to the Scientific Management School, led by Fredrick Taylor).

Fayol's 14 Principles of Management

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.

·        Including financial and non-financial compensation.

8.   Centralization

·        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.

Fayol's Six Functions of Management, which go hand in hand with the Principles, are as follows:

1.    Forecasting.

2.   Planning.

3.   Organizing.

4.   Commanding.

5.   Coordinating.

6.   Controlling.