Centralization of Authority In any business organization, concentration of authority and powers in the hands of top management is referred to as centralization, everything which goes to reduce the importance of subordinates role in an organization is known as centralization. In such a type of office organization, the authority and powers of each and every activity lies in the hands of top few, say office manager and his immediate subordinate, and other subordinates play the second and subsequent fiddles. In fact, they are not to play any role. Instead they asked to work and only work according to the dictates of what the boss wants and orders. Centralization of the powers in respect of planning and control in not a Continue reading
Principles of Management
Decentralization – Meaning, Advantages and Disadvantages
Meaning of Decentralization Delegation of authority and duties is usually referred to as decentralization in which set up the organization is divided into different section and departments in order to help the organization grow scientifically and with a purpose of direction leading to harmony in relations and healthy atmosphere which generally is absent in centralized system of organization. Decentralization of authority, holds Koontz and O’Donnell, “is a fundamental phase of delegation.” To the extent that authority is not delegated is obviously centralization. In the words of Henry Fayol, “every thing that goes to increase the importance of the subordinate’s role is decentralization.” Decentralization is diffusion of authority. It is a process by which specific responsibility is assigned to subordinates. Such Continue reading
Frederick Taylor’s Principles of Scientific Management
Frederick Winslow Taylor well-known as the founder of scientific management was the first to recognize and emphasis the need for adopting a scientific approach to the task of managing an enterprise. He tried to diagnose the causes of low efficiency in industry and came to the conclusion that much of waste and inefficiency is due to the lack of order and system in the methods of management. He found that the management was usually ignorant of the amount of work that could be done by a worker in a day as also the best method of doing the job. As a result, it remained largely at the mercy of the workers who deliberately shirked work. He therefore, suggested that those Continue reading
Important Characteristics of Management
An analysis of the various definitions of management indicates that management has certain characteristics. The following are the salient characteristics of management. 1. Management aims at reaping rich results in economic terms: Manager’s primary task is to secure the productive performance through planning, direction and control. It is expected of the management to bring into being the desired results. Rational utilisation of available resources to maximise the profit is the economic function of a manager. Professional manager can prove his administrative talent only by economising the resources and enhancing profit. According to Kimball – “management is the art of applying the economic principles that underlie the control of men and materials in the enterprise under consideration”. 2. Management also implies Continue reading
Professionalization of Management
There has been a growing trend towards professionalization of management. Professionalization imparts a certain social responsibility and dignity to management. A professional cannot be controlled or directed by the client. He has professional knowledge and judgment which he uses to make his decision. Thus, professionalization makes business more efficient, dynamic and socially responsible. The growth of management education has contributed to professionalization in the business field. The company form of business organization which has split ownership from management and the gaining popularity of the company form of business organization have increased the need for professional managers. Is Management a Profession? To answer this question, first of all we should understand what a profession is. Many authorities on the subject have Continue reading
Elton Mayo’s Hawthorne Experiment and It’s Contributions to Management
The term “Hawthorne” is a term used within several behavioral management theories and is originally derived from the western electric company’s large factory complex named Hawthorne works. Starting in 1905 and operating until 1983, Hawthorne works had 45,000 employees and it produced a wide variety of consumer products, including telephone equipment, refrigerators and electric fans. As a result, Hawthorne works is well-known for its enormous output of telephone equipment and most importantly for its industrial experiments and studies carried out. Hawthorne Experiment by Elton Mayo In 1927, a group of researchers led by Elton Mayo and Fritz Roethlisberger of the Harvard Business School were invited to join in the studies at the Hawthorne Works of Western Electric Company, Chicago. The Continue reading