Question

Assertion and Reason (A/R)

Assertion (A): Fayol suggested that administrative ability predominates at the lower management levels, unlike technical ability.

Reason (R): Fayol believed that administrative ability, which cannot be developed through technical knowledge alone, should be prioritized for effective operational control.

Which is correct?

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, but R is false.
• D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. A is true, but R is false.

Henri Fayol's Management Principles and Abilities

• Henri Fayol, a French mining engineer, is renowned for his 14 Principles of Management and his contributions to General and Industrial Management.
• Fayol distinguished between different types of abilities crucial for management: technical, commercial, financial, security, accounting, and administrative.
• Assertion (A) Analysis: Fayol argued that technical ability is paramount at the operative (lower) management levels. As one ascends the management hierarchy, the importance of administrative ability increases, while the need for technical skills diminishes. Therefore, the assertion that administrative ability predominates at lower management levels is false according to Fayol's perspective.
• Reason (R) Analysis: Fayol emphasized that administrative ability is a distinct skill set that involves planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling. He acknowledged that while technical knowledge can contribute to administrative competence, it is not sufficient on its own. Administrative ability requires a broader understanding of organizational dynamics and human relations, which are developed through experience and specific training. The statement that administrative ability should be prioritized for effective operational control is broadly aligned with Fayol's ideas, but the assertion that it cannot be developed through technical knowledge alone and should be prioritized for effective operational control needs nuance in the context of hierarchy. At lower levels, technical skill is often the primary requirement for operational tasks, while administrative skills become more critical for supervisors and managers who oversee these operations.
• Fayol's Hierarchy of Skills:
  1. Lower Management: Primarily requires technical skills to perform day-to-day tasks.
  2. Middle Management: Requires a balance of technical and administrative skills.
  3. Top Management: Primarily requires administrative (or conceptual) skills to strategize and lead the entire organization.
• The reason is considered false because while Fayol valued administrative ability, his framework suggests technical ability is more dominant at the *lowest* levels of management, directly involved in operations. Effective operational control at the lowest level relies heavily on the execution of technical tasks, whereas administrative ability becomes more critical as managerial responsibilities broaden towards coordination and strategic oversight.