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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 plant is held accountable for meeting a monthly output target but has no power to requisition materials or assign workers. Which management principle is being violated?

The principle violated is parity of authority and responsibility. The supervisor is held accountable for output but lacks the power to obtain materials or assign workers, so authority is less than the responsibility given. Accountability should be matched by sufficient authority to achieve the results demanded.

  1. AUnity of command
  2. BParity of authority and responsibilityCorrect
  3. CSpan of control
  4. DScalar chain

Explanation

Accountability for results requires matching authority to carry out the work. Here the supervisor has accountability without authority, so authority and responsibility are not equal. Unity of command concerns having one boss, which is not the issue described.

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