On the 4th Principle: Unity of Command

      
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		            		Carol 
Malaysia
			            
On the 4th Principle: Unity of Command

	          		According to Fayol's 4th Principle, Unity of Command, I should receive instruction from one boss who is my immediate manager.

However I have been instructed by other managers from other department too. And even by my colleagues. These instructions make my work overloaded. Is this not a violation of this principle by Fayol?
				      
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										              2

						            	Franciscus Koning
Interim Manager, Netherlands
												
				                Multiple Instructions of Multiple Instructors

													Maybe Fayol, in his time, would have classified it as the violation of several principles of industrial administration!

It is even more important that the content of the commands given to you is consistent and the direction of actions to be executed is one-dimensional. And the probability that this will be not guaranteed in your workstation is high. The effect is improductivity and waste of capacity and materials (failures). 

If the work is overloaded with instructions, the instructed person can avoid overload by following the most productive and effective instructions. Those come from the one who can judge the result of your work, your process, and those before and after your process. Prevoyance, organisation, coordination, control!
				                
										              4

						            	Richard Ngcobo
United Kingdom
												
				                Unity of Command is Aimed at Avoiding Confusion

													The main aim of this principle is to avoid confusion. If an employee receives conflicting instructio... Sign up
				              
										              0

						            	Adeyinka Oluwaseun
Student (University), Nigeria
												
				                More than One Supervisor Chokes the Subordinate

													Henry Fayol was quite on point regarding the principle of unity of command. I observed that if a sta... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Marie Florence Dieudonne, Haiti
												
				                Managers Must Realize that Employees have an Immediate Manager

													I believe the Unity of Command principle is most significant to make leaders realize that they shoul... Sign up
				              
										              6

						            	Mukwana Ronald Samuel
Student (University), Uganda
												
				                Discuss the Unity of Command Principle with your Immediate Boss

													It is indeed a violation of this principle. 
It could be the other managers are not aware of the pr... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	Sachin Narayan Nagle
Manager, India
												
				                Unity of Command if one has a Line Manager and a Functional Manger

													Hi, this really creates confusion about what should be your priorities and even more difficult who w... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Suleiman C. Muttani
Consultant, Tanzania
												
				                Confusion, Loss of Focus and Loss of Trust

													This situation is confusing; it is like in the saying "many whistles can confuse a dog to obey the c... Sign up
				              
										              4

						            	Thusego Kabo
Botswana
												
				                How a Manager and his Manager should Maintain Unity of Command towards the Employee

													My view is that if some higher supervisor wants a particular employee to perform a task, (s)he shoul... Sign up
				              
										              0

						            	dhanaraj, India
												
				                Don't Worry

													Don't become confused after receiving various instructions given by your boss, and various other peo... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Bernard Ngwenya 
Analyst, Zimbabwe
												
				                Unity of Command in Case of an Acting Supervisor

													Thanks for bringing out the above. Yes, it can be confusing. I have been experiencing yet another va... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	vivtoriajjemba
Manager, Uganda
												
				                Unity of Command is Also Aimed at Quick Execution

													@Richard Ngcobo: I agree unity of command is aimed at avoiding consufion, which makes the work very ... Sign up
				              
										              3

						            	wil son chnyamurindi
Zimbabwe
												
				                Play Along

													Unity of command principle would only work in an environment, where everyone including your boss and... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	Jamie Solak, United States
												
				                Unity of Command is Just One Principle That is Violated

													This is a common challenge (especially for highly talented employees of which you are one!) which of... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Kwok
Student (Other), Hong Kong
												
				                Unity of Command Enables Accountability

													I agree that if a manager violate this rule, it might cause confusion to employees. It will be easie... Sign up
				              
										              -2

						            	baseer
CEO, Bahamas
												
				                Response to the Conflicting Reporting Structures in the Current Envinornment in the Organizations

													Hi. These kind of situations are the reason I state that these are outdated principles and would rea... Sign up
				              
										              2

						            	David Egbeama, South Africa
												
				                Unity of Command

													Unity of command does not necessarily mean that instructions or additional tasks may not be passed o... Sign up
				              
										              1

						            	Adeyinka Oluwaseun
Student (University), Nigeria
												
				                Unity of Command Ensures Orderliness

													The Principle of Unity in Demand is to ensure orderliness. Too much commands from different managers... Sign up
				              
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