Question

Consider the following statements regarding the Central Theme of Classical Theory:

I. The central theme was summarized by Gulick and Urwick as principles arrived inductively from the study of human organization to govern human association.

II. These principles can be studied as a technical question, irrespective of the enterprise's purpose, personnel, or underlying constitutional, political, or social theory.

III. Classical theory emphasizes that administration is not a science, rejecting universal applicability of its principles across all organizations.

• A. Only I and II are correct
• B. Only II and III are correct
• C. Only I and III are correct
• D. All are correct

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only I and II are correct

Central Theme of Classical Theory in Administration

• The Classical Theory of administration, often associated with thinkers like Gulick and Urwick, focused on identifying universal principles of organization and management.
• Statement I is correct: Gulick and Urwick aimed to synthesize these principles, viewing them as inductively derived from the study of human organizations to guide associations. Their seminal work, Papers on the Science of Administration (1937), was pivotal in this regard.
• Statement II is correct: A core tenet of classical theory was the belief that administrative principles could be studied as a technical question. This implied that the effectiveness of these principles was largely independent of the specific purpose, personnel, or the broader socio-political context of the organization. This focus on universality and technicality is a defining characteristic.
• Statement III is incorrect: Classical theory strongly asserted that administration could be studied as a science and that its principles possessed universal applicability across different types of organizations. This belief in universality was a cornerstone of the theory, contrasting with later theories that emphasized contextuality and contingency.
• Key figures associated with classical theory include Frederick Taylor (Scientific Management), Henri Fayol (Administrative Management), and Max Weber (Bureaucratic Management).
• The theory primarily addressed the formal structure of organizations and focused on efficiency, rationality, and predictability.