Henri Fayol Management Principals Through Experience
Henri Fayol:
Management Principals through Experience
Introduction
While the subject of management has proven a popular topic, especially during the last 25 years, the subject is certainly not exclusive to latter part of the 20th century (Donkin, 1998). Henri Fayol, a turn-of-the-century French mining engineer and eventual management executive is often credited with becoming one of the first to develop and write about the now popular topic.
“Dubbed the father of modern operational-management theory” (Long, 1997, p.31), Fayol’s ideas and theories on management are founded in his practical 49 years of experience working in the mining and steel industry. However, Fayol was quick to point out that his theories were not confined to his particular industry: “Fayol saw his management principles, including control, as applicable to industry, government and all forms of human organization” (Parker & Louis, 1995, p.223). As Fayol himself notes, “There is not one doctrine of administration for industry and another for state enterprises; there is only one doctrine. The general principles and rules that are valuable in industry are equally valuable in the state and vice-versa” (as sited in Breeze, 1995, p.45).
Despite the fact that “Most principles of management textbooks acknowledge Fayol as the father of the first theory of administration” (Carter, 1986, p.454), Fayol’s early development of management theory is only one reason for his importance in the field of leadership; a second yet somewhat lesser claim to fame lies in the fact that he was also an early proponent of management education (Breeze, 1995; Fells, 2000, Gulick, 1937).
Although the movement from the more classical models of control to ideas founded in the human relations and systems schools of thought, the ongoing debate continues as to whether or not Fayol’s work holds relevant today. Included in this debate are his theories and ideas in the field of management, which holds significance for
Management Principals through Experience
Introduction
While the subject of management has proven a popular topic, especially during the last 25 years, the subject is certainly not exclusive to latter part of the 20th century (Donkin, 1998). Henri Fayol, a turn-of-the-century French mining engineer and eventual management executive is often credited with becoming one of the first to develop and write about the now popular topic.
“Dubbed the father of modern operational-management theory” (Long, 1997, p.31), Fayol’s ideas and theories on management are founded in his practical 49 years of experience working in the mining and steel industry. However, Fayol was quick to point out that his theories were not confined to his particular industry: “Fayol saw his management principles, including control, as applicable to industry, government and all forms of human organization” (Parker & Louis, 1995, p.223). As Fayol himself notes, “There is not one doctrine of administration for industry and another for state enterprises; there is only one doctrine. The general principles and rules that are valuable in industry are equally valuable in the state and vice-versa” (as sited in Breeze, 1995, p.45).
Despite the fact that “Most principles of management textbooks acknowledge Fayol as the father of the first theory of administration” (Carter, 1986, p.454), Fayol’s early development of management theory is only one reason for his importance in the field of leadership; a second yet somewhat lesser claim to fame lies in the fact that he was also an early proponent of management education (Breeze, 1995; Fells, 2000, Gulick, 1937).
Although the movement from the more classical models of control to ideas founded in the human relations and systems schools of thought, the ongoing debate continues as to whether or not Fayol’s work holds relevant today. Included in this debate are his theories and ideas in the field of management, which holds significance for