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CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Economics and Management · Organisation Structure, Responsibility, Accountability and Delegation of Authority

A production supervisor at a Pune auto-parts firm is told to meet a weekly output target but is not allowed to assign overtime, requisition materials or reassign workers. Which principle of sound organisation is violated here?

The principle violated is parity of authority and responsibility. The supervisor is held responsible for a weekly output target but has no authority over overtime, materials or workers. Responsibility without matching authority makes the target unachievable, whereas unity of command concerns reporting to a single superior, which is not at issue.

  1. AParity of authority and responsibilityCorrect
  2. BUnity of command
  3. CScalar chain
  4. DSpan of management

Explanation

The supervisor carries responsibility for output but lacks the authority to use the resources needed. Responsibility should be matched by equal authority. Unity of command concerns having one superior, which is not the issue described.

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