MANAGEMENT

Management



Management

Introduction

The French engineer Henri Fayol held a significant influence on administrative theory and scientific management. Fayol studied company management seeking to enhance efficiency. According to his theory, administration is recognized as the social science ruled by similar rules to natural sciences. Fayol analyzed administration in terms of the functions of industrial organizations, which he classified as planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling (Christensen & Laegreid, 2007, Pp. 55). Fayol was a rationalist who understood management of both private sector (companies) and public sector (e.g., public administration) organizations to be exactly the same thing. These rules, which he identified for the private sector, apply to the public one as well. Europe has produced precious few original management thinkers. It is surprising, therefore, that the achievements and insights of Henri Fayol are granted so little recognition.

A multitude of companies including the giants, Unilever and Procter & Gamble, have also implemented various notions promulgated by Henri Fayol. Fayol took management seriously and treated it as a skilled and responsible profession. This, it is worth noting, was at a time when the best-known book on the subject, Frederick Taylor's Scientific Management, still treated managers as stopwatch-holding supervisors(Peters & Pierre, 2005, Pp.122). It was not until 1954, and Drucker's The Practice of Management, that anyone else made such a bold pronouncement in management's favor.

Application of Henri Fayol's Principle

There is an immense similarity between P&G and Unilever when it come the basic principles of Henri Fayol. He also pondered the question of how best a company could be organized. In doing so, he took a far broader perspective than anyone else had previously done. In fact, the functional model that he created still remains largely valid. As Peter Drucker observed, “If used beyond the limits of Fayol's model, functional structure becomes costly in terms of time and effort” ((Holm, 2000, Pp. 35)

In many respects Henri Fayol was the first management thinker. While others concentrated on the workman and the mechanics of performance, he focused on the role of management and the essential skills required of managers. The conclusions he came to were accurate descriptions of the roles undertaken by managers and the structure of organizations—so much so that they retained their validity for decades beyond the end of Fayol's life.

Compare and Contrast

Unilever

The management practices of Unilever by inspired by various management thinkers that includes Henri Fayol too. Everyday two billion people use Unilever product around the world. These products help them to look good, feel good, and get facilitate in routine life. With over 400 brands, Unilever touches many people lives in different ways. The company manufactures health care, home-care and, food products. Unilever established in the year 1890. Since the establishment, Unilever engages corporate in social responsibility. 167,000 employee works at Unilever in different 22 regions and nationalities.

Unilever Strategies

Being a multinational organization Unilever focuses on identifying, planning, developing and implementing strategies. These strategies can boost the company's performance and growth. The target that attracts Unilever doubles the size of the ...