---
title: "Fayol's principles of administration"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_8/construction_management:fayol-principles"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/fayol-principles
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Fayol's principles of administration

Construction Management · Chapter 10: Personnel Management

- Asked in: 2079 Shrawan, 5 marks; 2069 Bhadra (old course), 4 marks; 2064 Poush (old course) (asked 3 times)
- Video: [Henri Fayol's Principles of Management](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90qpziPNRnY) — Organizational Communication Channel
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/fayol-principles
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-10

## Question

Write a short note on Fayol's (14) principles of administration management (administrative principles).

## Short answer

Fayol's 14 principles include division of work, authority with responsibility, discipline, unity of command and direction, fair remuneration, scalar chain, order, equity, stability of tenure, initiative, and esprit de corps. They guide managers to increase efficiency and harmony in construction projects.

## Answer

Henri Fayol (1841–1925), a French mining engineer, in *General and Industrial Management* (1916) gave 14 principles of management (administrative principles), as guidelines for managers. He also described five functions: planning, organising, commanding, coordinating and controlling.

#### The 14 principles
1. **Division of work:** specialisation increases efficiency (separate masons, carpenters, bar benders).
2. **Authority and responsibility:** the right to give orders must go with responsibility for results.
3. **Discipline:** obedience and respect for rules and agreements.
4. **Unity of command:** each employee receives orders from one superior only.
5. **Unity of direction:** one head and one plan for a group of activities with the same objective.
6. **Subordination of individual interest to general interest.**
7. **Remuneration:** fair pay for both employees and the firm.
8. **Centralisation:** the degree to which authority is concentrated or dispersed, suited to the situation.
9. **Scalar chain:** the line of authority from top to bottom; Fayol's "gangplank" allows cross-communication.
10. **Order:** the right person and material in the right place at the right time.
11. **Equity:** kindness and justice to employees.
12. **Stability of tenure:** avoid high labour turnover.
13. **Initiative:** allow employees to plan and carry out ideas.
14. **Esprit de corps:** team spirit and harmony ("union is strength").

#### Use in construction
A site has unity of command (each foreman reports to a single engineer), clear authority, order in stores and layout, and discipline in safety. Fayol's ideas are general, universal and can be applied in any organisation.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What does unity of command mean?
   A. One head and plan for a group
   B. Each employee gets orders from one superior only
   C. Authority is centralised
   D. Pay is fair
   Answer: B. Each employee receives orders from a single superior. (Key point: Unity of command)

2. Fayol says the right to give orders must be accompanied by:
   A. Higher pay
   B. Responsibility for results
   C. Discipline only
   D. Centralisation
   Answer: B. Authority must go with responsibility. (Key point: Authority and responsibility)

3. What is the benefit of division of work?
   A. Reduced tenure
   B. Specialisation increases efficiency
   C. More authority
   D. Higher turnover
   Answer: B. Specialisation, such as separate masons and carpenters, increases efficiency. (Key point: Division of work)

4. Esprit de corps refers to:
   A. Scalar chain
   B. Fair pay
   C. Initiative
   D. Team spirit and harmony
   Answer: D. It means team spirit and harmony ('union is strength'). (Key point: Esprit de corps)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Management vs administrative principles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aprinciples-management-compare) — Construction Management, chapter 10
- [Techniques of administrative and market decentralization](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Adecentralization-techniques) — Construction Management, chapter 10

## Related in other subjects

- [Administrative management theory, Fayol](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Aadmin-management-fayol) — Organization and Management, chapter 3, asked 3×
- [Scientific management and Taylor's principles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Ascientific-management-taylor) — Organization and Management, chapter 3