Henri Fayol 14 Principles of Management

  • By Neha Siddhwani
  • 28 March 2023
management principles henri fayol

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A candidate who has picked Commerce in 10+2 and is about to pursue a BBA program needs to understand the basic Henry Fayol’s 14 principles of management. Managerial skills are not in-built, they are developed by studying and understanding these principles. The main motive of these principles is to create a theoretical foundation for the education system and managers who lacked formal training in those days. Hence, in today’s time, a complete unit is dedicated to Henri Fayol 14 principles of management in Business Studies book. 

This blog will enlighten you about the managerial skills you need and the leadership qualities without which running an organisation can be a tough task.

Who was Henri Fayol?

Henri Fayol, or Father of Modern Management, was a French mining engineer, author and director of mines and mining executive who gave 14 principles of management and 5 main functions of management. The five main functions of management include Planning, Commanding, Controlling, Organising and Coordinating. He also gave a general theory of Business Administration called Fayolism. With his theories, he was able to explain how decision-making in management is essential and how a manager needs to be assorted. He also introduced us to the types of organisational activities that take place and how one can manage them skillfully. 

That was all the essential information about Henri Fayol. Now, let’s move on to the 14 principles of management that he introduced to society.

Henri Fayol 14 Principles of  Management

The Henri Fayol principles are essential to understand the role of a manager. To be a good manager, you need to deal with certain things patiently. Also, it will explain to you the major difference between leadership and management. So, here are the 14 principles of Henri Fayol management that you need to know.

  • Division of Work

    This principle is for both the managerial and technical level work as Fayol believed that every team member should have equal work divided according to their capabilities. This division of work will improve the efficiency, effectiveness and speed of workers.

  • Authority and Responsibility

    An employee should know his responsibilities - therefore, you need to give them work for which only they will be responsible. Authority gives the right management to give tasks to their employees. These two are the key aspects of management that one needs to learn.

  • Discipline

    Without discipline, no one can progress, and it also helps employees to grow better in their professional careers. It is a core value for any project, and every organisation needs to be disciplined for smooth functioning.

  • Unity of Command

    Every employee should have only one manager or boss to whom he needs to listen. Additional commands may create conflicts and differences resulting in poor performance.

  • Unity of Direction

    A unified goal and motive will only make work easier for every employee in the company. If the direction is different or different goals are set without completing the initial one will create confusion and conflicts.
  • Subordination of Individual Interest to General Interest

    Rather than personal interest, everyone in the company should work together for the same goals and interests of the company. The purpose of an organisation should be clear to the subordinates.

  • Remuneration

    Remuneration can be monetary or non-monetary, but it plays an essential role in an employee’s life. People work for remuneration so it will motivate them to put more effort into the company.

  • Centralisation and Decentralisation

    It is important to have a balance between hierarchy and division of powers so that nobody can misuse them. The decision-making process should be neutral, without any biases.

  • Scalar Chain

    Fayol focused that the hierarchy should be from the top to the lowest because the employee knows his immediate senior whom he can contact in times of need.

  • Order

    To have a favourable work culture, a company should maintain well-defined work orders for their employees. Overburdening may result in a negative atmosphere in the organisation.

  • Equity

    There should be no discrimination between the employees working in an organisation. They all should be treated respectfully and equally irrespective of their gender, caste, creed or colour.

  • Stability

    If an employee feels secure in their job, they give their best to the company. So, make sure that the job you are offering gives stability to their life.

  • Initiative

    The management should support their employees and encourage them to take initiatives in the organisation so that it can keep them interested and they feel worthy of working there.

  • Esprit De Corps

    The organisation needs to develop trust and mutual respect among the employees to get a positive outcome. They need to make sure that employees hold no grudges and support each other regularly.

These are the 14 Henry Fayol principles of management you need to know to enhance your leadership and managerial skills.

Importance of 14 Principles of Management

Often students read about the 14 principles of management given by Henri Fayol, but they don’t know the importance of these principles. Hence, we have curated this particular section for you.

  • Research and Development

    As the principles of management evolve, the practices used in managing a task or a team are based on rational judgement. These 14 principles of management given by Henri Fayol emphasise evaluating the financial feasibility of the product. With the help of management skills and market research, identifying the need and demand for the product and promoting it becomes easy.
  • Scientific Decisions

    As the situation demands, managers have to take some scientific decisions for their team. An organisation can only run if the right decisions are taken at the right time.
  • Effective Administration

    Managing people is not a day’s work, it is a repetitive task that has to be done effortlessly so that employees don’t get confused. With the help of the principle of unity and command, managing the respective areas becomes easy.
  • Peerless Resource Utilisation

    The major thing that the principles of management teach us is how to use resources effectively. Peerless resource utilisation is a challenging task, but by understanding the principles of management, one can monitor the performance of the employees and then use money, time, human efforts and materials effectively.
  • Social Obligations

    The principle of equity and fairness helps in protecting the interest of employees as the organisation is based inside society. Organisations have to supply the best products at a reasonable price to the employees, and that’s where they need output of supply from society.
  • Change in Technology

    Managers have to keep themselves updated with the latest technology that has entered the industry. With the help of division of work, managers can identify where and what the new technology is and who can adapt it better.
  • Helps in Setting Goals and Objectives

    It is true that when goals and objectives are set wisely, achieving them becomes accessible. These principles contribute towards efficiently working on the goals.

Conclusion

If you want to acquire leadership and management qualities, these 14 management principles of Henri Fayol are the need of an hour. They will help you in running an organisation smoothly and will assist you in managing situations and accomplishing tasks wisely. If you want to be a good manager, enrolling in a BBA course would be an excellent decision to make.  So, look for the colleges powered by Sunstone and get assistance from top recruiters and industry experts. You can also make a professional portfolio with them and improve your chances of getting placed in a leading brand.

FAQ - Principles of Management

Do I need to know all the 14 principles of management by Henri Fayol?

Yes, irrespective of your field, you should know all the principles mentioned above to learn proper management skills.

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