3 Lecture - Classical School of Thoughts – I

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MGT111

Midterm & Final Term Short Notes

Classical School of Thoughts – I

The Classical School of Thoughts in Public Administration is one of the oldest and most influential approaches to the study of government. It emerged in the late 19th century and emphasized the importance of hierarchy, specialization, and formal


Important Mcq's
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  1. Who is known as the father of scientific management? a. Max Weber b. Frederick Taylor c. Henri Fayol d. Elton Mayo Answer: b. Frederick Taylor

  2. According to the scientific management approach, what is the best way to improve efficiency? a. Increasing worker autonomy b. Decreasing worker specialization c. Standardizing work procedures d. Encouraging worker creativity Answer: c. Standardizing work procedures

  3. Which of the following is not one of the principles of management identified by Henri Fayol? a. Unity of direction b. Scalar chain c. Span of control d. Unity of command Answer: c. Span of control

  4. The concept of bureaucracy was first introduced by: a. Frederick Taylor b. Henri Fayol c. Max Weber d. Elton Mayo Answer: c. Max Weber

  5. According to Max Weber, what is the ideal type of bureaucracy? a. A flexible and adaptive organization b. A highly centralized and hierarchical organization c. A decentralized and participatory organization d. A profit-oriented and market-driven organization Answer: b. A highly centralized and hierarchical organization

  6. Who proposed the Administrative Management approach? a. Frederick Taylor b. Henri Fayol c. Max Weber d. Elton Mayo Answer: b. Henri Fayol

  7. According to the Administrative Management approach, what is the primary function of management? a. To increase efficiency through scientific analysis b. To coordinate and control activities to achieve organizational goals c. To provide a supportive work environment for employees d. To facilitate employee participation in decision-making Answer: b. To coordinate and control activities to achieve organizational goals

  8. Which of the following is not one of the functions of management identified by Henri Fayol? a. Planning b. Organizing c. Staffing d. Empowering Answer: d. Empowering

  9. What is the main criticism of the Classical School of Thoughts? a. It ignores the importance of human motivation and behavior b. It overemphasizes the role of technology in management c. It is too focused on short-term goals and profitability d. It does not provide a clear framework for decision-making Answer: a. It ignores the importance of human motivation and behavior

  10. Which of the following is not an example of bureaucracy? a. A government agency b. A hospital c. A university d. A startup company Answer: d. A startup company



Subjective Short Notes
Midterm & Finalterm Prepration
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  1. What is the main difference between the Scientific Management approach and the Administrative Management approach? Answer: The Scientific Management approach focuses on increasing efficiency through the standardization of work procedures, while the Administrative Management approach focuses on coordinating and controlling activities to achieve organizational goals.

  2. What is the principle of unity of command according to Henri Fayol? Answer: The principle of unity of command states that each employee should receive orders from only one supervisor to avoid confusion and conflict.

  3. What are the main characteristics of bureaucracy according to Max Weber? Answer: The main characteristics of bureaucracy include a highly formalized structure, a hierarchical system of authority, clear rules and procedures, and a division of labor based on specialization.

  4. How did Frederick Taylor contribute to the development of the Scientific Management approach? Answer: Frederick Taylor is known as the father of scientific management and contributed to the approach by emphasizing the importance of scientific analysis to improve efficiency, standardizing work procedures, and separating planning and execution functions.

  5. What is the main criticism of the Scientific Management approach? Answer: The main criticism of the Scientific Management approach is that it overemphasizes efficiency and ignores the importance of human motivation and behavior in the workplace.

  6. How did Henri Fayol contribute to the development of the Administrative Management approach? Answer: Henri Fayol developed a set of 14 principles of management that emphasized the importance of coordination and control in achieving organizational goals, as well as the need for clear communication and division of labor.

  7. What is the scalar chain according to Henri Fayol? Answer: The scalar chain is a principle of management that emphasizes the need for a clear hierarchy of authority in the organization.

  8. How did Max Weber contribute to the development of the concept of bureaucracy? Answer: Max Weber developed the concept of bureaucracy by emphasizing the need for a highly formalized and hierarchical organization structure, as well as the importance of clear rules and procedures and a division of labor based on specialization.

  9. What is the main advantage of the Administrative Management approach? Answer: The main advantage of the Administrative Management approach is that it provides a clear framework for coordinating and controlling activities to achieve organizational goals.

  10. What is the main disadvantage of the Classical School of Thoughts? Answer: The main disadvantage of the Classical School of Thoughts is that it can be too rigid and bureaucratic, leading to inflexibility and resistance to change. It also tends to ignore the importance of human motivation and behavior in the workplace.

The Classical School of Thoughts is a group of theorists who were among the first to develop ideas and theories about management and organization. The Classical School of Thoughts can be divided into two main branches: Scientific Management and Administrative Management. Scientific Management, also known as Taylorism, was developed by Frederick Taylor in the late 19th century. Taylor believed that the key to increasing efficiency was through the scientific analysis of work procedures. He advocated for the standardization of work tasks, the separation of planning and execution functions, and the use of financial incentives to motivate workers. Administrative Management was developed by Henri Fayol in the early 20th century. Fayol believed that management was a universal function that could be applied to any organization, regardless of its size or type. He developed a set of 14 principles of management, which emphasized the importance of coordination and control in achieving organizational goals. Max Weber is another important figure in the Classical School of Thoughts. Weber developed the concept of bureaucracy, which emphasized the need for a highly formalized and hierarchical organization structure, as well as the importance of clear rules and procedures and a division of labor based on specialization. The Classical School of Thoughts has had a significant impact on modern management theory and practice. Many of the principles developed by Taylor, Fayol, and Weber are still widely used today. However, the Classical School of Thoughts has also been criticized for being too rigid and bureaucratic, and for ignoring the importance of human motivation and behavior in the workplace. Despite its limitations, the Classical School of Thoughts remains an important part of management history and has influenced the development of many other management theories and approaches. Its legacy can still be seen in many of the management practices and techniques used in organizations around the world today.

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