Question

Parkinson’s Law stipulates that “growth in the number of managers and hierarchical levels is controlled by two principles.” What are these principles and how do they work in controlling the hierarchy? In public organizations, do we need to control the hierarchy? If so, why? In your explanation, discuss how the concepts of centralization and decentralization factor into controlling the hierarchy.

Answer 1

The two major pricniples of Parkinson's law are

1. An official wants to multiply their subordinates, not increasing rivals.
2. Officials make work for each other

This helps managers to delegate work and help their teammates to perfrom accordingly. Its managers responsbility to ensure proper work life balance and work enrichment for their peers. Motivation is another important perspective which helps in improving the quality of deliverables and their commitment In public organisation heirarchy needs to be controlled which could derive more productive output rather than monotonous work and boring working environment, Concepts of centralisation needs to be done for maintaining the power or authroty and the system for taking effective decision and that should be out of colloborative support and input. Decentralisation can be easily adopted in management pratice were number of staff stenght is low in number and every individual can be worked as individual contributor. This will help in reducing the turn around time for work and also enhances the decision making capability and taking ownership of work which chey do.