Management principles are broad and general guidelines for decision making and behaviour. Following features highlight the characteristics of management principles :
(i) Universal application- Management principles are applied in every situation where the objectives are attained through group efforts. All social, economic, political or religious organisations apply management principles for their successful operations. Every organisation should make the best possible use of its available resources by the application of management principles alongwith managerial functions such as planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling.
(ii) Flexibility- The principles of management are not rìgit prescriptions, which have to be followed absolutely. The are flexible and can be modified by the manager when the situation so demands. They give the manager enough discretion to do so.
(iii) General Statements- Management principles are concerned with human behaviour which cannot be tested under laboratory conditions. Human behaviour cannot be predicted accurately. Therefore, management principles are not as exact as the principles of physical science.
