This from the wiki entry on Henri Fayol, reckoned to be the "father" of modern management techniques, and widely studied at business school.
Fayol put forward the following as functions of management:
Fayol put forward the following as functions of management:
- forecasting
- planning
- organizing
- commanding
- coordinating
- monitoring
- Division of work. This principle is the same as Adam Smith's
'division of labour'. Specialisation increases output by making
employees more efficient. - Authority. Managers must be able to give orders. Authority
gives them this right. Note that responsibility arises wherever
authority is exercised. - Discipline. Employees must obey and respect the rules that
govern the organisation. Good discipline is the result of effective
leadership, a clear understanding between management and workers
regarding the organisation's rules, and the judicious use of penalties
for infractions of the rules. - Unity of command. Every employee should receive orders from only one superior.
- Unity of direction. Each group of organisational activities that have the same objective should be directed by one manager using one plan.
- Subordination of individual interests to the general interest.
The interests of any one employee or group of employees should not take
precedence over the interests of the organisation as a whole. - Remuneration. Workers must be paid a fair wage for their services.
- Centralisation. Centralisation refers to the degree to which
subordinates are involved in decision making. Whether decision making is
centralised (to management) or decentralised (to subordinates) is a
question of proper proportion. The task is to find the optimum degree of
centralisation for each situation. - Scalar chain. The line of authority from top management to
the lowest ranks represents the scalar chain. Communications should
follow this chain. However, if following the chain creates delays,
cross-communications can be allowed if agreed to by all parties and
superiors are kept informed. - Order. People and materials should be in the right place at the right time.
- Equity. Managers should be kind and fair to their subordinates.
- Stability of tenure of personnel. High employee turnover is
inefficient. Management should provide orderly personnel planning and
ensure that replacements are available to fill vacancies. - Initiative. Employees who are allowed to originate and carry out plans will exert high levels of effort.
- Esprit de corps. Promoting team spirit will build harmony and unity within the organisation.
