Principles of Office Management - MIT School of Distance Education
                     MIT School of Distance Education
Principles of Office Management
 Office management refers to the process of managing the 
activities, finances, workforce and everything within an 
organisation to enhance its efficiency as well as productivity. It 
works on some defined principles as listed below:
 1. Objective and Purpose
 In an organisation, management must operate with the 
purpose of effective coordination and avoid work duplicity or 
unnecessary time consumption. Effective coordination allows 
organisation to achieve its aimed objectives.
 2. Division of Work or Specialisation
 In different departments, the entire work must be divided into 
smaller tasks. It should then be assigned to the person who 
best fits in that position. This leads to enhanced efficiency.
 3. Efficiency
 Assigning tasks according to a subordinate’s efficiency and 
skill is important for enhanced efficiency.  
 4. Unity of Command
 For the smooth functioning of an organisation, a subordinate 
must report to only one superior. Division of loyalty and dual 
command leads to duplication as well as delay in the work.
5. Scalar Chain
Proper flow of communication is possible in an organisation 
only if there is a chain of authority ranging from the top to the 
bottom level of management.
6. Personal Ability
An organisation must be able to achieve its objectives in a 
definite time period. In this process, it should also enhance 
its employees’ skills.  
 7. Flexible
 The business environment is dynamic. So, an organisation 
must be flexible enough to adapt itself with the changing 
environment for its sustained growth and success.
 8. Coordination
 In addition to planning, organising, controlling and directing, 
coordination also plays a key role in office management. At times, 
many big organisations fail to achieve their objectives due to the 
lack of coordination among its departments and employees.
 9. Delegation of Authority
 It includes assigning the superior’s authority as well as the 
responsibility to the subordinates. It leads to motivation as well as 
the possibility of quick decision-making by the subordinates.
10. Principle of Span of Management
 Every supervisor should have a limited number of subordinates 
assigned under him. This principle is concerned with the 
productivity of supervisors. If there are limited subordinates, the 
supervisor can easily assess their performance and communicate 
with them. 
11. Responsibility
A superior can never delegate his responsibility along with 
authority. He will always be responsible for his subordinate’s 
conducts.
12. Parity of Responsibility and Authority
Authority and responsibility always go hand-in-hand. A superior 
who has the authority to delegate his work is also responsible to 
get the work done from his subordinates.
13. Continuity
A business organisation must be able to continue its existence in 
the long-run if it wants to expand further.
14. Leadership Facilitation
This principle states that every department at every level of 
management is able to achieve its objectives because of the 
leadership qualities of superiors.
15. Balance
Every department is expected to achieve one goal at-a-time. 
Therefore, there must be a balance while assigning the activities.
16. Simplicity
If the structure of an organisation is simple in nature, then the 
activities will automatically be more effective. 
 17. Authority
 Every superior must get the best work done by his employees.
18. Definiteness
 Every position in an organisation along with its purpose must be 
clearly defined to all the levels of management.
19. Authority Level for Decision-Making
The authority level is concerned with decision-making for an 
organisation. The decision-making property flows from the lower 
to the top level. If top-level fails to make a decision, then the 
bottom level loses its power of decision-making.
 So, these were the principles of office management. Every 
individual must aware of these principles to make his/her mark in 
the corporate world. In order to facilitate the candidates to 
understand business operations and processes holistically, MIT 
School of Distance Education (MIT-SDE) offers 1-year 
Post Graduate Certificate in Modern Office Management.
This course equips the candidates with a complete understanding 
of different principles, fundamentals and core departments that 
together facilitate an organisation in achieving its management 
objectives. So, apply for the course immediately and enhance 
your employability.
        
                       THANK YOU