Sunrise Footwear
Meena runs Sunrise Footwear, a small unit that makes school shoes. Each cutting knife, last and glue pot has its own numbered hook on the wall rack, and every worker hangs the item back on its hook after use. Arif, the supervisor, speaks of ‘our order’ and ‘our deadline’ in every meeting with the workers, and never of ‘my order’.
The workers come from different states and speak different languages. When promotions are due, Meena looks only at each worker’s work record, never at where the worker comes from.
Last year, a machine operator thought of a new way of laying out patterns on the leather. Meena let her try it out on the next order and gave her a cash reward when it cut waste.
Meena also found that the unit made shoes in fourteen sizes and five shades of black. She cut them down to six sizes and one shade.
According to Fayol, what can Meena expect from the way she decides promotions, as described in the second paragraph of the passage?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Loyalty and devotion of the employees
Option (1) A congenial atmosphere and good relations between workers and management — Incorrect. Fayol links this result with remuneration that is just and equitable. Meena's case is about promotions.
Option (2) Obedience to the organisational rules and the employment agreement — Incorrect. This is the meaning of discipline.
Option (3) Lower recruitment, selection and training cost for the unit — Incorrect. This comes from stability of personnel, when staff are kept for a fixed tenure.
Option (4) Loyalty and devotion of the employees — Correct. Meena decides promotions with no discrimination on account of state or language. That is equity, fairness to all employees. Fayol says such kindliness and justice from managers ensure loyalty and devotion.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “(xi) Equity: Good sense and experience are needed to ensure fairness to all employees, who should be treated as fairly as possible,” according to Fayol. This principle emphasises kindliness and justice in the behaviour of managers towards workers. This will ensure loyalty and devotion. Fayol does not rule out use of force sometimes. Rather he says that lazy personnel should be dealt with sternly to send the message that everyone is equal in the eyes of the management. There should be no discrimination against anyone on account of gender, religion, language, caste, belief or nationality etc. …” |