Similarities and Differences between Fayol’s and Weber’s Theories of Management
Max Weber (1841-1925) and Henri Fayol (1864-1920) were born when industrialization was transforming government, business, and society. Whereas Fayol focused more on top managers who develop strategy, Weber’s work edged more towards middle managers who implement set strategy (BCcampus, 2020). Consequently, their views on management were bound to differ due to their different perspectives. Despite their differences, both men had similar ideas of the administrative management theories, like the need for rational and logical systems to control various types of enterprises.
Both Max Weber and Henri Fayol’s contributions to administration borrowed heavily from Fredrick Taylor’s scientific theory. Weber created a formal system of organization and administration known as the principles of bureaucracy (BCcampus, 2020). Similarly, Henri Fayol designed Fayol’s management system, which like Weber’s, but based on fourteen principles. Both men’s principles stress the importance of authority in an enterprise and the need to hold employees accountable for their actions (Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. 2009). Max Weber’s fourth principle, which states that employees should have a clear understanding of whom to report to and who reports to them, this form of hierarchical order should be established. Fayol’s management theory, like Weber’s, emphasizes the need for a scalar chain of command that should be limited (BCcampus, 2020). With a well-defined hierarchy, both men believed that employees would know who reports to them and whom they report to, thereby enhancing smooth administration.
Max Weber and Henri Fayol’s contributions were similar in that they aimed to achieve a common goal; however, their works had notable differences. For instance, Max Weber believed in the bureaucracy theory, which contained five principles crafted to achieve authority. Furthermore, he created rules that he described as SOPs (Standard Operation Procedures), which consisted of guidelines to keep employee behavior checked (Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. 2009). The SOPs were aimed at increasing the bureaucratic system’s performance and efficiency because they detailed how to execute organizational tasks; some of these rules form the framework of business administration today (Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. 2009). On the other hand, Henri Fayol came up with fourteen principles of management, and while he recognized Weber’s principles, he emphasizes the importance of informal authority.
Unlike previous scholars –including Henri Fayol- Max Weber went further and described the reason behind the emergence of bureaucracies and other responses to industrialization. According to Weber, the transformation of administration was brought about by the industrial revolution and transportation (BCcampus, 2020). These two aspects were the force behind the expansion of territories and consequently brought the need for bureaucracy and more efficient management systems. Although bureaucracy was not an entirely new concept as it existed in ancient China, Weber’s new form of bureaucracy meant that decisions would be made on a formal basis rather than off the manager’s whim.
Henri Fayol and Max Weber made influential contributions to the development of management. Fayol created the fourteen principles of management and came up with Fayol’s administrative theory, the first general statement on management theory. He also emphasized the need for a unity of command and proposed that each employee requires only one supervisor. Weber is recognized for his work in modern bureaucracy; he suggested that decisions should be made on a formal basis and not what a bureaucrat felt was right. He developed the idea that organizations should be formalized and legalistic in their running.
References
BCcampus. (2020). Administrative and Bureaucratic Management. Retrieved 4 September 2020, from https://opentextbc.ca/principlesofmanagementopenstax/chapter/administrative-and-bureaucratic-
Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. (2009). Contemporary Management Sixth Edition. Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10020: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
