Henri Fayol

About the Author

Henri Fayol (1841-1925) was a pioneering French mining engineer and management theorist whose groundbreaking ideas laid the foundation for modern administrative theory. Born in Istanbul to French parents, Fayol spent much of his career at the Commentry Fourchambault mining company, rising to director and successfully turning around its fortunes during economic challenges. Drawing from his practical experience, he developed 14 principles of management and five functions of administration—planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling—that remain influential in business education today. His seminal work, General and Industrial Management, published in 1916, shifted focus from technical operations to overall organizational efficiency, earning him recognition as the father of classical management theory and inspiring generations of leaders worldwide.