2. Unity of Command
Unity of Command means that no
individual employee should be subject to
the orders of more than one immediate
superior
3. Views on Unity of Command
• Pfiffner & Presthus, "The concept of
Unity of Command requires that every
member of an organisation should report
to only one leader."
• Fayol, " Should it be violated, authority is
undermined,discipline is in jeopardy, order
disturbed and stability threatened."
4. Features of Unity of Command
• Establishes direct superior-subordinate
relation at all levels of the organisation
• There is no confusion of responsibility
• Everyone knows who is superior and
whom he has to obey
• Example:- Military organisation
5. Criticism of Unity of Command
• Theoretically, principle of Unity of
Command seems sound but in practice
important exceptions are found.
• Example:- in complex governmental
situations, an employee is frequently
subjected to dual command or control--
one administrative and other technical
• Reason is the difficulty in finding officers
qualified & competent to exercise
administrative as well as technical control
6. Span of Control
Span of Control refers to the number of
subordinates or the units of work that an
administrator can personally direct
7. Views on Span of Control
• Dimock,"The Span of Control is the
number and range of direct, habitual
communication contacts between the chief
executive of an enterprise and his
principal fellow officers."
8. Features of Span of Control
It depends on four factors:-
Function - means the type of work which
is to be supervised
Personality - means the competence,
professional as well as personal, of the
superior and also subordinates
Time - means the age of the organisation
also influences Span of Control
Space - it refers to the place of work to be
supervised
9. Analysis of the Principle
• This concept is related to the principle of
"span of attention" given by V.A.Graicunus
• It states that there is a psychological limit
to an individuals span of attention
• A general agreement states that the
shorter the span, greater the control
• However, recent development and
technology has helped to increase the
Span of Control of the authority
10. Analysis of the Principle
• Another development which has
influenced the Span of Control is the
growing number of specialists.
• Due to this the familiar superior-
subordinate hirearchy superior relation is
under challenge
• In such an organisation the task of chief
executive is more of coordination than of
supervision & control
