New Upcoming Legal Jobs Free Workshop March 11 at 5 PM. Register here

    Question

    Which of the following management principle states that

    no employee should report to more than one superior?
    A Scalar chain principle Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B Span of control Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C Unity of command Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D Unity of direction Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    E Equity principle Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    Unity of commandprovides that an employee is responsible to only one supervisor, who in turn is responsible to only one supervisor, and so on up the organizational hierarchy. This is true even if the top of the organization is led by a group of people. For example, imagine you are the CEO of a technology firm in Silicon Valley. While the board of directors of your company governs the policy making and strategic planning, under the concept of unity of command, you do not answer to all members of the board, but only the chairman of the board

    BASIS

    UNITY OF COMMAND

    UNITY OF DIRECTION

    Meaning

    Unity of command refers to a principle of management which states that one incumbent should get orders from and report to one boss.

    Unity of direction is a management principle which implies that all the activities with same objective must have one head and one plan.

    Purpose

    To prevent dual subordination.

    To prevent activities overlap.

    Focuses on

    Single employee

    Entire organization

    Outcome

    The principle leads to effective functioning of the subordinates.

    The principle results in coordination of work of various employees.

    Relationship

    Represents relationship between superior and subordinate.

    Represents relationship of activities, as per organizational plans and goals.

    Need

    It is needed to fix the responsibility of each person in the organization.

    It is needed for sound organization of activities.

    Practice Next