Why is it important to have unity of command in an organizational structure?

Get full access to Tools and Tips for Today's Project Manager and 60K+ other titles, with free 10-day trial of O'Reilly.

There's also live online events, interactive content, certification prep materials, and more.

Unity of command is one of the 14 key principles of management coined by a veteran French mining engineer, Henry Fayol. The principle says that no subordinate should have more than one boss or supervisor. Assigning two or more supervisors to an employee most probably creates confusion as the subordinate ponders on which assignment or command to take first hence the veracity of the statement - "in no case is there adaptation of a social organism to a duality of command".

Unity of Command is one of the Henri Fayol's 14 principles of Management. This principle states that there must be only one superior to a subordinate. That is, an employee or a worker must not have many bosses or superiors. If an employee or subordinate has to work under the influence of many bosses or superiors, then it creates a confusing situation, dilemma and disorder. This also affects overall efficiency, productivity and profit of the organization.

Image Credits © Official U.S. Navy Imagery

Thus, according to the principle of unity of command too many heads (bosses or superiors) must not boss or supervise the same amount of work being done by a worker or an employee. In other words, the work of a worker or job of an employee must always be supervised by a single head.

Example of Unity of Command

Unity of command is explained with the help of following diagrammatic e.g.

Image Credits © Moon Rodriguez.

In the above example, Correct Unity of Command flows from Manager to Assistant Manager, Assistant Manger to Supervisor, Supervisor to Executive, and finally from executive to workers.

According to the Principle Of Unity Of Command, the organization shall follow a Correct Unity of Command. It must not communicate through Incorrect Unity Of Command as shown in the above diagrammatic example.

Advantages of Unity of Command

Benefits or advantages of Unity of Command are depicted below.

Image Credits © Moon Rodriguez.

The merits or advantages of unity of command are listed as follows:

1. Better relationship among superior and subordinates.
2. Clear and well-organized Authority, Responsibility and Accountability.
3. Reduces and/or avoids duplication of work.
4. Prompt or quick decision making.
5. Good, effective and efficient discipline.
6. Better co-ordination and team work.
7. Boosts morale and positive attitude of workers.
8. Leads to higher productivity of goods and services.

Now let's discuss each benefit or advantage of Unity of Command.

1. Better relationship

Unity of Command helps to develop a clear and better relationship among superior and subordinates.

2. Authority, responsibility and accountability

Unity of command results in a clear and well-organized Authority, Responsibility and Accountability between various levels of workforce of the organization.

3. Reduces duplication of work

It helps to reduce and/or avoid duplication of work between the various levels of workforce of the organization.

4. Prompt or quick decisions

The Unity Of Command helps managers to take prompt or quick decisions properly.

5. Effective and efficient discipline

The unity of command ensures an effective and efficient discipline within an organization.

6. Better co-ordination and team work

The unity of command ensures better Co-ordination, and Team work in the organization.

7. Boosts morale and positive attitude

It boosts morale and generates positive attitude among workers in the organization.

8. Higher productivity

The unity of command leads to higher productivity of goods and services. This creates a better image or goodwill of the organization in the market.

Why is unity of command important in an organization?

How important is the unity of direction and the unity of command?

What does unity of command stand for when describing the organizational structure of corrections?

What is unity of command in business?