Differences Between Unity of Command and Unity of Direction

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Similarities and Differences Between Unity of Command and Unity of Direction

Unity of Command

An employee should get commands from and report to one boss only at a time. Unless and until it is absolutely necessary, dual subordination should be avoided. The management has a disciplined, stable, and ordered existence thanks to the unity of command. It allows supervisors and subordinates to have a harmonious relationship. They shouldn't take orders from more than one individual.

To put it differently, a subordinate should not get orders or instructions from and be answerable to more than one superior or it will create delays & chaos, conflicts, confusion, work duplication, overlapping efforts. Moreover, it weakens discipline, authority, and loyalty. Employees will have more options to escape duties.

Unity of Direction

The principle, one head, and one plan refers to the idea of having a single plan for a set or group of functions with the same goals. Activities that are similar should be categorized together. There should be a single plan of action for them, and they should be assigned to certain management. All members of the team's efforts should be oriented toward a single purpose under the charge of a particular supervisor.

 

Unity of command	Unity of direction
Employees need to receive orders, command & instructions from and answerable to only 1 boss.	It refers to 1 head, 1 plan for a group of tasks having the same goals.
It is about the functioning of kinds of stuff.	It is related to the activities of departments, or the entire organization.
It prevents confusion, conflicts, chaos.	It stops duplication of functions, efforts, and wastage of resources.
It leads to a sound relationship between superiors and subordinates.	It leads to the smooth functioning of an organization.

 

Unity of command is required in order to assign responsibility to each subordinate and unity of direction is essential for proper organization.

Therefore, they are obviously distinct from one another, yet they are interdependent. unity of direction is a precondition for the unity of command. However, it does not always result from the unity of direction.