Question

Hitesh started a garment manufacturing company recently. However, he soon began facing several problems like targets not met, conflicts among managers, high labour turnover, etc. He hired a management consultant to find out what was going wrong. The consultant conducted investigations and gave the following observations :
In Production Department, workers were receiving instructions from both, the Production Manager and the Marketing Manager. As a result, there was a lot of confusion regarding tasks to be done.

Hint:

Remember: One Boss per subordinate = Unity of Command. If an employee gets orders from two managers, this principle is violated.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 4

Step 1: Understand the problem described in the case.
Workers in the Production Department were receiving instructions from two different managers: the Production Manager and the Marketing Manager. This created confusion about which tasks to prioritise and how to proceed.
Step 2: Connect the observation to Fayol's principles.
Henri Fayol formulated 14 principles of management to guide managers in running organisations effectively and fairly. The situation described matches one of his most fundamental principles.
Step 3: Identify the principle being violated.
The principle being violated here is the Principle of Unity of Command. According to this principle, each subordinate in an organisation should receive orders and instructions from one and only one superior at a time.
Step 4: Explain why this principle matters.
When a worker receives instructions from two bosses simultaneously, they face a dilemma: whose orders do they follow? This leads to confusion, divided loyalty, indiscipline, and conflicting priorities. In extreme cases, it can result in complete chaos and work stoppages.
Step 5: Apply the principle to Hitesh's company.
In Hitesh's company, production workers were being commanded by both the Production Manager and the Marketing Manager. This dual authority is a direct violation of Unity of Command, and it is the root cause of the confusion regarding tasks to be done in the production department.
Step 6: State the corrective implication.
Hitesh needs to establish a clear reporting structure where each worker receives directions from exactly one superior. This will eliminate confusion, restore order, and improve productivity.
\[ \boxed{ \text{Principle violated: Unity of Command} } \]