Which of the following is NOT an organizational principle?

• A. Chain of command
• B. Unity of command
• C. Delegation of tasks
• D. Division of labor

Answer: (C)

Organizational principles describe how authority and work are arranged within a system. Chain of command creates the clear path for orders from top to bottom. Unity of command ensures every person reports to a single supervisor, preventing conflicting directions. Division of labor assigns distinct tasks to specialized roles to increase efficiency. Delegation of tasks, however, is a management practice: it’s about granting some authority and responsibility to others to carry out tasks within the established structure. It helps implement plans and distribute workload, but it isn’t a fundamental principle that defines how the organization is structured. For that reason, delegation of tasks is not considered an organizational principle in the same sense as the others.