Question

Gulick’s POSDCORB acronym outlines the functions of administration. In this framework:

I. 'CO' stands for coordination through hierarchy.

II. 'S' represents the principle of specialization within departmental organizations.

III. Planning ('P') is fundamentally linked to the deliberate coordination of ideas.

Which of the following is correct?

• A. I and II only
• B. II only
• C. I only
• D. I, II, and III

Answer 1

Answer:

C. I only

• Luther Gulick, a prominent political scientist and public administration theorist, developed the POSDCORB acronym in 1937. It was part of a report for the Brownlow Committee on the reorganization of the federal government of the United States.
• POSDCORB is an acronym representing the core functions of management and administration:
• Planning: Determining what needs to be done and how to do it.
• Organizing: Establishing the structure of the enterprise.
• Staffing: Recruiting, training, and maintaining the workforce.
• Directing: Issuing orders and instructions.
• COordinating: Interrelating the work of various divisions.
• Reporting: Keeping superiors informed about what is happening.
• Budgeting: Fiscal planning, accounting, and control.
• Regarding the statements:
• Statement I: 'CO' stands for coordination through hierarchy. This is partially correct. 'CO' stands for Coordination. Coordination is a crucial function to ensure that different parts of an organization work harmoniously towards common goals. While hierarchy can be a mechanism for coordination, the primary meaning of 'CO' in POSDCORB is the act of coordinating efforts, not exclusively through hierarchy. However, in the context of administrative functions, coordination is often facilitated by hierarchical structures.
• Statement II: 'S' represents the principle of specialization within departmental organizations. 'S' in POSDCORB stands for Staffing. Staffing involves the human resource aspect: selecting, training, and maintaining the personnel. Specialization is a related concept, often a principle of organization ('O'), but it is not what 'S' directly represents.
• Statement III: Planning ('P') is fundamentally linked to the deliberate coordination of ideas. While planning involves organizing ideas and setting a course of action, its fundamental link is to determining future actions and objectives. Coordination is a separate function ('CO') that ensures different plans and actions are aligned. Planning is about foresight and strategy; coordination is about integration and synergy.
• Therefore, only the first statement has a conceptual alignment that makes it the most plausible, assuming 'coordination' is understood broadly within the administrative context, which often involves hierarchical relationships. The other statements misinterpret the core meanings of 'S' and the primary function of 'P' in Gulick's model.