Identify the technique of Scientific Management which is contradictory to the principle of Unity of Command.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Functional Foremanship
Option (1) Time Study — Incorrect. Time study finds the standard time for a job. It has nothing to do with who gives orders.
Option (2) Motion Study — Incorrect. Motion study finds the best movements for a job. It does not involve many bosses.
Option (3) Functional Foremanship — Correct. Fayol’s principle of unity of command says that an employee should get orders from only one boss. Taylor’s functional foremanship divides the foreman’s work among eight specialists, and each worker takes orders from all of them. This breaks the rule of one boss for one employee.
Option (4) Work Study — Incorrect. Work study is a general term for studying how work is done. It does not create more than one boss.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Functional Foremanship In the factory system, the foreman represents the managerial figure with whom the workers are in face-to-face contact on a daily basis. In the first chapter of the book, you have seen that the foreman is the lowest ranking manager and the highest ranking worker. He is the pivot around whom revolves the entire production planning, implementation and control. Thus, Taylor concentrated on improving the performance of this role in the factory set-up. In fact, he identified a list of qualities of a good foreman/supervisor and found that no single person could fit them all. This prompted him to suggest functional foremanship through eight persons.” “(iv) Unity of Command: According to Fayol there should be one and only one boss for every individual employee. If an employee gets orders from two superiors at the same time the principle of unity of command is violated. The principle of unity of command states that each participant in a formal organisation should receive orders from and be responsible to only one superior. …” |
Note: The same/similar question has been asked in different years by NTA as per the details given below:
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | – | – | 02-07 S3 29-05 S3 | – |