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ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Leadership, management and supervision

In a large organisation, a junior clerk in department A needs urgent information from a clerk in department B. Fayol's scalar chain would normally require the request to go up through the line of authority and back down, but Fayol allowed a direct link between the two clerks. Which statement best describes this allowance?

This is Fayol's gangplank. It lets staff at the same level in different departments communicate directly to avoid delays in the scalar chain, provided their superiors have authorised it and are kept informed. It does not breach unity of command and has nothing to do with pay grades.

  1. AIt is a gang plank, allowed only if their superiors have agreed and are kept informedCorrect
  2. BIt is a breach of unity of command and is never acceptable
  3. CIt is an example of centralisation of decision-making
  4. DIt is permitted only where the clerks have equal pay grades

Explanation

Fayol's 'gangplank' allows employees at the same level in different chains to communicate directly to avoid delay, provided their superiors know and approve. It is not a breach of unity of command because the superiors remain informed. It is unrelated to centralisation or pay grade.

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