Which of the following statements about the nature of principles of management is correct?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Principles of management are mainly behavioural in nature, as they aim at influencing behaviour of human beings.
Option (1) Principles of management are formed by experience and collective wisdom of workers as well as experimentation. — False. The principles are formed by the experience and collective wisdom of managers, together with experiments. For example, common experience shows that discipline is needed to achieve any purpose.
Option (2) Principles of management enable a better understanding of the relationship between human and financial resources. — False. The principles help us understand the relationship between human and material resources in reaching the organisation’s purposes.
Option (3) While planning a factory layout, orderliness requires that workflows are matched by flow of funds and movement of men. — False. When the layout of a factory is planned, orderliness needs workflows to be matched by the flow of materials and the movement of men.
Option (4) Principles of management are mainly behavioural in nature, as they aim at influencing behaviour of human beings. — True. Management principles aim at influencing the behaviour of human beings, so they are mainly behavioural. They do deal with things too; it is only a matter of emphasis.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “(iii) Formed by practice and experimentation: The principles of management are formed by experience and collective wisdom of managers as well as experimentation. For example, it is a matter of common experience that discipline is indispensable for accomplishing any purpose. This principle finds mention in management theory. On the other hand, in order to remedy the problem of fatigue of workers in the factory, an experiment may be conducted to see the effect of improvement of physical conditions to reduce stress.” “(v) Mainly behavioural: Management principles aim at influencing behaviour of human beings. Therefore, principles of management are mainly behavioural in nature. It is not that these principles do not pertain to things and phenomenon at all, it is just a matter of emphasis. Moreover, principles enable a better understanding of the relationship between human and material resources in accomplishing organisational purposes. For example, while planning the layout of a factory, orderliness would require that workflows are matched by flow of materials and movement of men.” |