Question

The acronym POSDCORB, which delineates the seven functions of administration according to Gulick, was coined by:

• A. Henry Fayol
• B. Luther Gulick
• C. Lyndall Urwick
• D. Herbert Simon

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Luther Gulick

Luther Gulick and the POSDCORB Acronym

• Luther Gulick (1892–1993) was a prominent American public administration scholar and theorist.
• He, along with Lyndall Urwick, developed and popularized the POSDCORB acronym as a framework for understanding the functions of management and administration.
• This acronym was introduced in their seminal 1937 report, Papers on the Science of Administration.
• POSDCORB represents seven key administrative functions:
  • P - Planning: Devising the outlines of something to be done.
  • O - Organizing: Establishing the structure of the organization.
  • S - Staffing: Recruiting, training, and maintaining the workforce.
  • D - Directing: Issuing orders and instructions.
  • C - Coordinating: Interrelating the work of different units.
  • O - Reporting: Keeping the superiors informed through records and research.
  • B - Budgeting: Fiscal planning, accounting, and control.
• Gulick's contribution is foundational in the study of public administration and management, influencing organizational theory and practice for decades.
• His work provided a systematic approach to analyzing and improving administrative processes, making it a frequently cited concept in competitive examinations related to public administration and management.