Q.Which principle of management states – 'Everything its place, every person his/her place'?

The Principle of Order is one of the 14 principles of management laid down by Henri Fayol. It is a concept that feels almost instinctive once you see it in action, but it is surprisingly easy to violate in a busy workplace.

Think about your own desk. If your books, pens, and notes are scattered everywhere, you waste time hunting for a highlighter or a specific page. Now imagine that chaos multiplied across a factory floor, an office, or a hospital. The Principle of Order is simply the idea that everything — and everyone — should be in its right place at the right time.

Fayol divided this principle into two clear parts:

• Material Order: A place for everything, and everything in its place. This refers to physical objects — raw materials, tools, files, machines. When material order exists, there is no wasted motion searching for things. Work flows smoothly because the screwdriver is where it should be, the invoice is in the correct folder, and the inventory is stacked in a logical spot.

• Social Order: A place for everyone, and everyone in his/her place. This refers to people. It means the right person is assigned to the right job, based on their skills and qualifications. It also means that each employee knows exactly where they fit in the organisation — who they report to, what their duties are, and what authority they have.

Why does this matter in a real organisation? Consider a retail store. If the stockroom is a mess (no material order), a salesperson spends 20 minutes looking for a shoe size — the customer walks out. If the store manager is also supposed to handle billing because no one is clearly assigned (no social order), queues build up and staff get irritable. The principle of order prevents these small frictions from becoming big problems. …