- 20 Marks
Question
Modern organisations now focus on managing their employees rather than
knowing how to do their work well.
a. Explain briefly the assumptions that guide reinforcement theory and THREE ways reinforcement theory could be used in the business environment.
(10 Marks)
b. List the TEN principles of management as suggested by Lyndall Urwick and briefly explain FIVE of them.
(10 Marks)
Answer
a.
- Assumptions of reinforcement theory:
- Positive reinforcement: Rewarding good behavior encourages repetition of such behavior.
- Negative reinforcement: Removing a negative stimulus to encourage behavior.
- Punishment: Introducing a negative outcome to discourage undesirable behavior.
- Three ways reinforcement theory could be applied in the business environment:
- Performance-based rewards: Providing incentives for achieving targets.
- Employee behavior management: Using rewards and consequences to shape employee actions.
- Continuous feedback: Offering consistent feedback to reinforce desired outcomes.
b.
- Urwick’s Ten Principles of Management:
- The Principle of Objective: The organization must have clear goals.
- The Principle of Specialisation: Tasks should be divided into areas of expertise.
- The Principle of Coordination: Departments should work together to achieve common objectives.
- The Principle of Authority: Clear lines of authority are necessary for effective management.
- The Principle of Responsibility: Individuals should be responsible for their specific roles.
- The Principle of Definition: Tasks and roles must be clearly defined.
- The Principle of Correspondence: Authority and responsibility must be equivalent.
- The Principle of Span of Control: There is a limit to the number of subordinates a manager can efficiently oversee.
- The Principle of Balance: Resources must be adequately balanced with tasks.
- The Principle of Continuity: The organization must plan for long-term sustainability.
- Tags: Management Principles, Organisational Behaviour, Reinforcement Theory
- Level: Level 1
- Topic: Management, Individual, and Organizational Behavior
- Series: NOV 2023
- Uploader: Theophilus