The 14 Principles of Management

Management can be summarized in 14 basic principles or fundamentals and we list them below. The 14 Management Principles are:

1.DIVISION OF LABOR: Specialization increases production by making the employee more efficient.

2. AUTHORITY: Administrators must be able to give orders. The authority gives them this right. Where authority is exercised, responsibility arises.

3.DISCIPLINE: Employees must obey and respect the rules that govern the organization.

COMMAND UNIT: Each employee should receive orders only from a superior.

5. UNIT OF DIRECTION: Each group of organizational activities that have the same objective must be directed by an administrator who uses a single plan.

6.SUBORDINATION OF INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS TO THE GENERAL INTEREST: The interests of an employee or group of unique employees should not have preponderance over the interests of the organization as a everything.

7.REMUNERATION: Workers must receive a fair wage for their services.

8. CENTRALIZATION: Refers to the degree to which subordinates participate in decision-making. The question is to find the optimal degree of centralization for each situation.

9.THE SCALE CHAIN: The line of authority from the highest direction to the lower ranks represents the scale chain. Communications should preferably follow this chain, except for exceptions in which delays are caused and communication should be crossed, informing superiors.

10.ORDER: People and materials must be in the right place at the right time.

11. EQUITY: Administrators must be kind and fair with their subordinates.

12. STABILITY IN STAFF TENURE: High employee turnover is inefficient. Management must provide orderly personnel planning and ensure that replacements are available to fill vacancies.

13. INITIATIVE: Those employees who are allowed to originate and develop plans will make high levels of effort.

14. TEAM SPIRIT: Promoting team spirit will create harmony of unity within the organization.

Robbins Stephen P., Management Fundamentals, Prentice Hall, Mexico, 1996.