Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The evolution of management thought is historically categorized into several distinct schools.
The Classical School, which emerged during the Industrial Revolution, sought to find ways to manage organizations and workers more efficiently.
This school is broadly divided into Scientific Management, Administrative Management, and Bureaucratic Management.
Henri Fayol, a French mining engineer and industrialist, is widely recognized as the primary figure of the Administrative School.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Henri Fayol’s approach was revolutionary because he looked at the organization from the "top-down."
While Frederick Winslow Taylor focused on the "shop floor" and the efficiency of individual tasks (Scientific Management), Fayol focused on the management of the entire organization.
He believed that management is a universal skill that can be taught and applied to any organized human activity, whether in business, government, or even the home.
Fayol’s contributions can be broken down into three main areas:
1. Technical vs. Managerial Skills: He identified that as a person moves up the hierarchy, technical skills become less important while managerial skills become more critical.
2. The Five Functions of Management: He defined the managerial role through five key functions: Planning, Organizing, Commanding, Coordinating, and Controlling (often abbreviated as POCCC).
3. The 14 Principles of Management: He developed 14 principles, such as Division of Work, Authority and Responsibility, Unity of Command, and Esprit de Corps, which serve as foundational guidelines for managers.
The "Administrative School" focuses on the structure of the organization and the functional roles of managers.
In contrast, the "Scientific School" (Taylor) focuses on the optimization of work through time and motion studies.
The "Human Relations" and "Behavioural" schools (e.g., Elton Mayo, Abraham Maslow) emerged later to address the psychological and social needs of workers, which the classical schools had largely ignored.
Because Fayol’s work centers on the systematic functions and administrative structure of an enterprise, he is the father of the Administrative Management school.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Henri Fayol is the architect of the administrative approach to management. Therefore, the correct answer is (B).