Office management refers to the process of managing the activities, finances, workforce and everything within an organisation to enhance its efficiency as well as productivity. It works on some defined principles as listed below: In an organisation, management must operate with the purpose of effective coordination and avoid work duplicity or unnecessary time consumption. Effective
coordination allows organisation to achieve its aimed objectives. In different departments, the entire work must be divided into smaller tasks. It should then be assigned to the person who best fits in that position. This leads to enhanced efficiency. Assigning tasks according to a subordinate’s efficiency and skill is important for enhanced efficiency. For the smooth
functioning of an organisation, a subordinate must report to only one superior. Division of loyalty and dual command leads to duplication as well as delay in the work. Proper flow of communication is possible in an organisation only if there is a chain of authority ranging from the top to the bottom level of management. An organisation must be able to achieve its objectives in a definite time period. In this process, it should also
enhance its employees’ skills. The business environment is dynamic. So, an organisation must be flexible enough to adapt itself with the changing environment for its sustained growth and success. In addition to planning, organising, controlling and directing, coordination also plays a key role in office management. At times, many big organisations fail to achieve their objectives due to the lack of coordination among its departments
and employees. It includes assigning the superior’s authority as well as the responsibility to the subordinates. It leads to motivation as well as the possibility of quick decision-making by the subordinates. Every supervisor should have a limited number of subordinates assigned under him. This principle is concerned with the productivity of supervisors. If there are limited subordinates, the supervisor
can easily assess their performance and communicate with them. A superior can never delegate his responsibility along with authority. He will always be responsible for his subordinate’s conducts. Authority and responsibility always go hand-in-hand. A superior who has the authority to delegate his work is also responsible to get the work done from his subordinates. A
business organisation must be able to continue its existence in the long-run if it wants to expand further. This principle states that every department at every level of management is able to achieve its objectives because of the leadership qualities of superiors. Every department is expected to achieve one goal at-a-time. Therefore, there must be a balance while assigning the activities. If the
structure of an organisation is simple in nature, then the activities will automatically be more effective. Every superior must get the best work done by his employees. Every position in an organisation along with its purpose must be clearly defined to all the levels of management. The authority level is concerned with decision-making for an organisation. The decision-making
property flows from the lower to the top level. If top-level fails to make a decision, then the bottom level loses its power of decision-making. So, these were the principles of office management. Every individual must aware of these principles to make his/her mark in the corporate world. In order to facilitate the candidates to understand business operations and processes holistically,
MIT School of Distance Education (MIT-SDE) offers 1-year Post Graduate Certificate in Modern Office Management. This course equips
the candidates with a complete understanding of different principles, fundamentals and core departments that together facilitate an organisation in achieving its management objectives. So, apply for the course immediately and enhance your employability.
CBSE, NCERT, JEE Main, NEET-UG, NDA, Exam Papers, Question Bank, NCERT Solutions, Exemplars, Revision Notes, Free Videos, MCQ Tests & more. Install NowNCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management Class 12 Business studies Class book solutions are available in PDF format for free download. These ncert book chapter wise questions and answers are very helpful for CBSE board exam. CBSE recommends NCERT books and most of the questions in CBSE exam are asked from NCERT text books. Class 12 Business studies chapter wise NCERT solution for Business studies part 1 and Business studies part 2 for all the chapters can be downloaded from our website and myCBSEguide mobile app for free. Download NCERT solutions for Principles of Management as PDF. NCERT Class 12 Business studies Chapter wise SolutionsBusiness Studies Part – I
Business Studies Part – I I
Chapter 2 Principles of Management
NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management1. Principles of management are NOT
Ans: Principles of management are not absolute. They are just the guidelines for the decision making in the course of management. That is, principles of management are not applied as it is in the real business situations rather they need to be modified by the manager as per the situation and the requirement. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management2. How are principles of management formed?
Ans: Principles of management were developed over years by experiences and observations of the managers. Every manager faces varying situations in real business organisations. Based on these experiences, they draw general conclusions and inferences that guide them in their action and decision making in similar situations. That is, the experiences of the managers form the basis of the principles of management. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management3. The principles of management are significant because of
Ans: Optimum utilisation of resources entails employing the limited resources (such as capital and labour) to their best possible usage so that maximum benefit can be derived with minimum possible cost. Principles of management help in predicting the cause and effect relationship of the decisions of the managers. Thus, the wastages of resources that may be associated with the hit and trail method can be avoided. Thus, principles of management are significant because of optimum utilisation of resources. Increase in efficiency, initiative and adaptation to changing technology arrives at later stages, ones the resources are fully utilised. 4. Henry Fayol was a
Ans: Henry Fayol (1841-1925) was a French mining engineer who started his work in the mining industry at the age of nineteen. Based on his own experience, he developed the theory of business administration. He gave the concept of ‘Administrative Principles’. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management5. Which of the following statement best describes the principle of ‘Division of Work’
Ans: According to the principle of ‘Division of Work’, the work should be divided into small jobs. This is because of the fact that any complex task can be performed efficiently if it is divided into smaller units and performed by specialists. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management6. ‘She/he keeps machines, materials, tools, etc., ready for operations by concerned workers’. Whose work is described by this sentence under functional foremanship
Ans: The work of Gang Boss is being described in the given sentence. Gang boss is assigned the task of keeping the machines and tools ready for operations. That is, he has to take care of the materials which are to be used by the working people. On the other hand, repair boss ensures that these machines are in proper working condition. Route clerk is there to watch over the route of production and instruction card clerk assigns the duties of the workers. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management7. Which of the following is NOT a Principle of management given by Taylor?
Ans: Among the options given above, Functional Foremanship is not a principle of management rather it is a technique of scientific management as given by Taylor. It comprises of the methods or steps to be taken to achieve a desired goal. On the other hand, the other three are principles of management that acts as guidelines for decision making in the actual practice of the techniques. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management8. Management should find ‘One best way’ to perform a task. Which technique of Scientific management is defined in this sentence?
Ans: The technique that is being described in the given sentence is ‘Method Study’. According to the ‘Method Study’ there is always a ‘one best way’ to complete any task. Every task can be performed via best method to gain efficiency. The basic purpose of this study is to reduce the costs to its minimal and increase the productivity to its maximum. Time study, Motion study and Fatigue study aims at standardising the time limits, eliminating the unwanted actions and deciding the break limits, respectively. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management9. Which of the following statements best describes ‘Mental Revolution’?
Ans: ‘Mental Revolution’, a term given by Taylor implied that the management and workers should change their attitude and thinking towards harmony. Management should take care of the needs and suggestions given by the workers and workers on the other hand, should work to their best capability. This will build a harmonious working environment in the organisation. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management10. Which of the following statements is FALSE about Taylor and Fayol?
Ans: The false statement is ‘Fayol’s principles are applicable in specialised situations whereas Taylor’s principles have universal application’. The correct statement in place of this is, ‘ Fayol’s principles are universally applicable whereas Taylor’s principles are applicable only in specialised situation.’ NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of ManagementShort Answer Type: 1. How is the principle of ‘Unity of Command’ useful to management? Explain briefly. Ans: The principle of ‘Unity of Command’ states that any person should be answerable to just one boss. If an individual receives command from two or more people then, this principle is violated. According to Fayol, this principle plays an important role in management. If this principle is violated then, it leads to confusion in the mind of the employee which leads to instability and disturbance. For example, suppose A (sales manager) gives B a task that has to be completed in 5 days. On the other hand, C (finance manager) asks B to complete the same task in 3 days. This will lead to confusion in terms of targets. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management2. Define Scientific Management. State any three of its principles.Ans: The term ‘Scientific management’ was developed by Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) in 1911. It refers to the classical outlook of management which focussed on devising the best ways of doing the work and thereby increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of work. Scientific management implies working according to standardised techniques and tools and with the help of specialised personnel so as to improve the quantity as well as the quality of the product and the same time reducing the costs. Scientific management is also known as Taylorism. The Following are three principles of scientific management.i. Harmony, Not Discord: According to this principle, the managers and the workers should maintain a harmonious work environment. They should realise that they are dependent on each other. Only if they work in amity, will they be able to perform better. Taylor emphasised on complete mental revolution. That is, the workers should change their attitude and each one should realise others importance. Management should take care of the needs of the workers and workers on the other hand should work to their best efficiency. Both should work in harmony towards the common goals of the organisation. ii. Science, Not Rule of Thumb: According to Taylor, instead of rule of thumb scientific management practices should be followed. Under the rule of thumb, each manger handles a situation as and when they arise. They used the trial and error method to find solutions to a problem. Taylor proposed that instead of this management practices should be scientific. He suggested that a study of various traditional methods should be done and the best method/solution among them should be adopted and followed by all the managers in the organisation. Such a scientific management greatly reduces the costs and improves efficiency. iii. Personnel Development: Overall efficiency of the organisation depends on the individual competencies of the employees. Scientific management aimed at improving the working capabilities of the employees to their maximum level. It focussed on the training and development of the labourers to raise their productivity. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management3. If an organisation does not provide the right place for physical and human resources in an organisation, which principle is violated? What are the consequences of it?Ans: In the stated situation, the Principle of Order is violated. As per the Principle of Order, there should be right arrangement of things. Everything and everyone should be at their respective places, in short ‘right people at right place and at right time’. This helps in carrying out the tasks smoothly. If this principle is violated, then it leads to chaos and delay in work. For instance, if the files are not kept in a certain order, then it will lead to difficulty in locating a file when required. This will further lead to delay in the work. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management4. Explain any four points regarding significance of Principles of Management.Ans: Principles of management play an important role in managerial practices. They guide the managers in taking actions and decisions. The following points highlight the significance of Principles of Management (a) Insights to Reality: Principles of Management are based on years of experimentation and experience. Thus, these principles guide the managers, when they face the real world problems. Managers can use them in different situations to solve the recurring problems. (b) Logistic Decisions: Decisions regarding management should be taken carefully. They should be based on reasons and proofs rather than beliefs and ignorance. As principles of management were developed from real life problems so, they stand the test of logic and reasoning. Thus, principles of management help the managers in taking logical decisions that are free from personal bias. (c) Basic Education of Management: These principles form the basic roots of management education. Without them management as a discipline could not have been developed. That is, they form an important part of management curriculum. In addition, they also form the basis of further research on management techniques and methods. (d) Optimal use of Resources: Principles of management help in the optimum utilisation of the available resources. With principles of management the exact cause and effect relationship of the decisions of the managers can be predicted. Thereby, the wastages of resources that may be associated with the hit and trail method can be avoided. Thus, by following the principles of management, best possible usage of resources becomes possible such that maximum benefit can be derived with minimum possible cost. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management5. Explain the principle of ‘Scalar Chain’ and gang plank.Ans: Scalar Chain refers to a pre-defined, formal path of authority and communication in the order of highest to the lowest. For example- if A is the CEO of an organisation and he has two paths of authorities under him. One, A-B-C and the other A-D-E. Everybody in the organisation follows this chain of authority for communication. For example, If C wants to contact with E then he will have to follow this formal path, as C → B → A → D → E. That is, C has to first contact the higher authorities (C → B → A) over him who then transverse the communication to E (A → D → E). However, in case of emergency C may directly contact E through ‘Gang Plank’. Gang plank is a shorter emergency route through which the workers lower in the authority chain can directly contact the persons of higher authority or those working in other scalar chains. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of ManagementLong Answer Type:1. Explain the Principles of Scientific management given by Taylor. Ans: Scientific management implies knowing exactly what is to be done and devising the best ways of doing it. This term was given by Frederick Taylor (1856-1915) in 1911. It suggests that work should be done according to standardised techniques and tools and with the help of specialised personnel so as to improve the quantity as well as the quality of the product and the same time reducing the costs. That is, scientific management improves the effectiveness and efficiency of work. The following are the principles of scientific management.(a) Science, not a rule of thumb: Before Taylor developed the Principles of Management, Rule of Thumb was a widely used concept. Under rule of thumb, each manger handled a situation or problem as and when they arose using the trial and error method. It was an easily applicable process but was a very vague and inaccurate technique of determining solutions to the problems. Taylor fostered the introduction Scientific methods. He believed that for every work there is only one best method of doing it. He wanted managers to take decisions on the basis of logic and science rather than rule of thumb. He proposed that various traditional methods used by the managers should be studied and the best method/solution among them should be adopted and followed by all the managers in the organisation. With such scientific management he was able to increase efficiency to a large extent. (b) Harmony, not Discord: Taylor emphasised that the managers and the workers should maintain a harmonious work environment. They should realise their interdependence and work in amity. He was well acquainted with the fact that friendly working environment will help in developing the relations between them. He introduced this principle to maintain a peaceful kinship between people. Often it is found that if the workers are deprived of their wishes or demands they generally go on strike. This affects the productivity and the working environment. To dismiss such a situation Taylor was ardent about a mental revolution. It implies a change in the thinking of both the workers and managers. For example, if a worker is having problem with the working hours, he should talk to the manager about it, instead of letting it effect the production (by going on a strike). Similarly, the managers should listen to the worker’s suggestions and demands rather than ignoring them.(c) Cooperation, not Individualism: This principle emphasised cooperation among the managers and workers over individualism. This principle was an elongation of the principle of ‘Harmony, not discord’. According to it, the workers and the manager should work with mutual understanding of each other. The manager should take care of the labourers. He should share the company gains with the workers; awarding them with sufficient incentives to work. Similarly, the labourers should willingly work, giving their best contribution to the company. This will build up mutual trust and belongingness within both of them. Work and responsibility should be equally divided and a sense of cooperation and coordination should be established. (d) Personnel Development: Any organisation should focus on the development of its workers along with the company’s growth. This is because if the workers will have higher proficiency, then they will be able to increase their contribution to the organisation’s development. They should introduce ways and incentives to build up their competitiveness. Efforts towards increasing the efficiency should begin at the very first step i.e. while hiring the workers. Employees should be recruited in a scientific manner. They should be assigned works according to their mental/physical qualities. For increasing the efficiency, the workers should be given a proper training. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management2. Explain the following Principles of management given by Fayol with examples:(a) Unity of direction (b) Equity (c) Espirit de corps (d) Order (e) Centralisation and decentralisation (f) Initiative Ans: (a) Unity of Direction: According to this principle, each unit of the organisation should work towards a common objective. According to it, units having same goals should have a single head and plan. This principle helps in eliminating the overlapping of work. For example, if an organisation is engaged in the manufacturing of two products, then each should have its own separate department and divisions with their respective heads and plans. (b) Equity: This principle focuses on treating each employee fairly equally. That is, it states that each employee should be equal in the eyes of the manager. Although this principle calls for kindliness in the behaviour of the manager, however sometimes force can also be used to set an example for other employees. In addition, the workers should be regarded as equal grounds of religion, language, caste, etc. This helps in building an amiable environment. For example- if workers from different religions or nationalities are working in the same organisation then no discrimination should be done against any. (c) Espirit de Corps: This principle recommends that employees should work in unity with each other. They should work as a team. In other words, team spirit should be promoted by the manager. Each employee should have a sense of belongingness. This proves useful especially in large organisations where without team work, achievement of objectives would become difficult. Team sprit increases coordination and mutual understanding among the employees and thereby improves efficiency.(d) Order: Orderliness principle focuses on right arrangement of things. Everything and everyone should be at their respective places, in short ‘right people at right place and at right time’. This helps in carrying out the tasks smoothly. For example, if files are kept in a certain order then this will help in locating the file easily when required. Violation of this principle leads to chaos and delay in work. (e) Centralisation and Decentralisation: Centralisation refers to the consolidation of power and authority to one or only few hands. Here, the decision making power gets reserved to the centre point of an organisation. On the other hand, decentralisation refers to the delegation of authority to more than one level. According to Fayol, the involvement of the employees with the higher authority should be balanced by decentralising the authority to the managers. For example, if the CEO of a company is responsible for decision making for the entire organisation then, this is centralisation of power. On the other hand, if the decision making power is delegated to managers at the middle and lower level then, this will be called decentralisation. (f) Initiative– According to this principle, workers should be given enough motivation and incentive to work. They should be inspired to come up with suggestions for regarding the work. Although initiatives should be encouraged, but they should be in line with the practices and rules of the organisation. For example, the managers can ask the workers for their inputs over how to increase efficiency. Also, good suggestions can be rewarded. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management3. Explain the technique of ‘Functional Foremanship’ and the concept of ‘Mental Revolution’ as enunciated by Taylor.Ans: Functional Foremanship: A foreman refers to a person who is in charge of the operational level workers. Taylor suggested that to increase the efficiency, performance of the foreman should be improved. That is, Taylor focused on the importance of the foreman in an organisation. Taylor observed and identified few qualities, such as intelligence, tact, judgement, etc., that a foreman should have. He found that no single person can have all the required qualities. Thus, he suggested that instead of a single person, there should be eight persons through which the functions of a foreman should be accomplished. This technique was given the name Functional Foremanship. According to this, the planning and the production functions should be separated. That is, under the manager, there would be one planning incharge and one production incharge. Each incharge would have four personnel under him/her. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management The following are the four persons that worked under the planning incharge.i. Instruction Card Clerk– To give instructions to the workers. ii. Route Clerk– To show the route of production. iii. Time and Cost Clerk– To take care about the time and costs. iv. Disciplinarian- To ensure that discipline is being maintained. The following are the four persons that worked under the production incharge. i. Speed Boss– To ensure timely completion of tasks ii. Gang Boss– To keep the machines and tools ready for the workers. iii. Repair Boss– To ensure proper working of the machines. iv. Inspector– To control the quality of work done. Mental Revolution: Mental Revolution implies changing the attitude of the workers and the managers. Mental revolution aimed at improving the thinking of both, to create a better working environment. The workers and the manager should change their attitude and each one should realise others importance. Both should work towards the common goals of the organisation. Management should take care of the needs of the workers and share the benefits with them. On the other hand, workers should put in their best efforts. Thus, the concept of Mental Revolution enunciated on cooperation and mutual trust between the workers and the managers. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management4. Discuss the following techniques of Scientific Work Study:(a) Time Study (b) Motion Study (c) Fatigue Study (d) Method Study (e) Simplification and standardisation of work. Ans: (a) Time Study– In this technique Taylor emphasised on setting a standard time limit for completing any particular job. With the help of time measuring tools, considerable readings were taken for the time taken to complete a task. On the basis of this a standard time limit is set for each task. This helped in deciding the number of workers to be employed for the task, determining their wages, etc. For example, if, on the basis of observations it is determined that one person can finish making 1 shirt in two hours then, in a working day of 8 hours, each worker should make 4 shirts. (b) Motion Study– As the name suggests, motion study refers to the study of motion (movements) involved while undertaking a task. This technique aims at removing the unwanted actions/motions so that the work can be completed in a lesser time. Taylor along with his associate Frank Gailberth observed the motions of a worker and categorised them as productive, incidental and unproductive. They demonstrated that by eliminating the unproductive movements productivity can be increased. For example, in brick layering they demonstrated that productivity increased by nearly 4 times by reducing the motions from 18 to 5. (c) Fatigue Study–This technique is regarding requirement of rest or break during the work. If a worker works continuously physical and mental fatigue sets. This reduces his/her efficiency. Thus, the worker requires rest or break. Fatigue study identifies the intervals required while completing a task. It suggests that standard break timings should be decided for improving the working performance of workers. (d) Method Study– This study aims at finding out the best method of completing any work. It takes into account each and every activity involved in the task. It helps in reducing the costs and maximising the satisfaction of the customers. Assembly line production, used by Ford Motors is a popular example of method study. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management (e) Simplification and Standardization of Work– Taylor holds up standardization as the very basis of techniques of scientific management. Standardization as the word suggests implies setting of milestones or benchmarks for any work or activity. Various other techniques by Taylor, such as method study, fatigue study and time study are also based on the concept of standardization. Simplification on the other hand means eliminating any unnecessary diversifications in the product. It aims at fuller utilisation of the resources, reducing inventories and increasing the turnover. It helps in reducing the costs of labour and machines. This technique helps in optimum utilisation of resources and removes the unnecessary costs related to work. NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management5. Discuss the differences between the contributions of Taylor and Fayol.Ans:
NCERT Solutions class 12 Business studies Principles of Management6. Discuss the relevance of Taylor and Fayol’s contribution in the contemporary business environment.Ans: The principles of Taylor and Fayol play an important role in contemporary business environment. Taylor’s scientific management principles and Fayol’s administrative principles provide guidelines to the managers in taking actions and decisions. They help in explaining and predicting the business situations and thereby, guides the managerial behaviour. Although they cannot be used as it is but they prove as important guidelines in complex real business situations. Managers can use them in different situations to solve the recurring problems. Decisions taken on the basis of these principles are based on facts and logic and are thereby, more appropriate. They are developed over time by a continuous process of observations and experimentation. Thus, they provide useful insight into the real business situations. These principles have universal applicability and are used by all organisations irrespective of the size, nature, region. Moreover, as these principles are based on the human behaviour so, they help in establishing a relationship between human and material resources in an organisation. The applicability of these principles helps in overall development of the organisation. These principles aim at increasing the overall efficiency in the organisation along with optimum utilisation of resources. They also highlighted the importance of cooperation among the employees and the managers while maintaining a harmonious work environment. NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Business studiesNCERT Solutions Class 12 Business studies PDF (Download) Free from myCBSEguide app and myCBSEguide website. Ncert solution class 12 Business studies includes text book solutions from both part 1 and part 2. NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 12 Business studies have total 20 chapters. 12 Business studies NCERT Solutions in PDF for free Download on our website. Ncert physics class 12 solutions PDF and Business studies ncert class 12 PDF solutions with latest modifications and as per the latest CBSE syllabus are only available in myCBSEguide CBSE app for studentTo download NCERT Solutions for class 12 Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Political Science, Economics, Geography, Computer Science, Home Science, Accountancy, Business Studies and Home Science; do check myCBSEguide app or website. myCBSEguide provides sample papers with solution, test papers for chapter-wise practice, NCERT solutions, NCERT Exemplar solutions, quick revision notes for ready reference, CBSE guess papers and CBSE important question papers. Sample Paper all are made available through the best app for CBSE students and myCBSEguide website. Which principal of office organization states that any work should be divided into smaller parts?The principle of management that says the work should be divided into parts is known as the principle of Division of work.
What refers to dividing the job into smaller part?Dividing the work into small tasks is known as Division of work.
What is the principle of division of work?As the name suggests, in this principle, the work is divided into small tasks/ jobs. A trained and competent specialist is required to perform each job. Thus, division of work leads to specialisation. According to Fayol, division of work intends to produce more and better work for the same effort.
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