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Public Adminstration QUESTION #9539
Question 1
Henri Fayol identified 14 principles of management. A district officer issues orders to a field inspector who simultaneously receives contradictory orders from a divisional director. Which single Fayol principle has been most directly violated, and what is its practical consequence?
  • Division of work — resulting in role confusion and overlapping responsibilities
  • Unity of command — resulting in conflict, confusion and erosion of accountability✔️
  • Scalar chain — resulting in bypassing the line of authority
  • Esprit de corps — resulting in breakdown of team cohesion
Correct Answer Explanation
Unity of command (Fayol's Principle 4) holds that each employee should receive orders from one superior only. When violated, accountability becomes diffuse, conflict is inevitable, and the employee cannot determine whose instructions take priority — directly undermining organizational discipline.