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.
Which principle or technique of management is followed in the way the tools are kept in Meena’s workshop?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Order
Option (1) Discipline — Incorrect. Discipline is obedience to organisational rules and the employment agreement. The point here is that each tool has its own fixed place.
Option (2) Division of work — Incorrect. Division of work splits work into small tasks done by trained specialists. The passage is about where tools are kept.
Option (3) Order — Correct. Every knife, last and glue pot has its own numbered hook and goes back there after use. This is a place for everything and everything in its place. With a fixed place, nothing is searched for and work runs without hindrance.
Option (4) Standardisation and simplification of work — Incorrect. This is Taylor’s technique of setting standards and cutting needless varieties. Meena used it when she cut fourteen sizes to six.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “(x) Order: According to Fayol, “People and materials must be in suitable places at appropriate time for maximum efficiency.” The principle of order states that ‘A place for everything (everyone) and everything (everyone) in its (her/his) place’. Essentially it means orderliness. If there is a fixed place for everything and it is present there, then there will be no hindrance in the activities of business/ factory. This will lead to increased productivity and efficiency.” |