When a subordinate takes a problem directly to a higher-ranking officer, this breach violates the principle of:

• A. Communications
• B. Division of Labor
• C. Unity of Command
• D. Span of Control

Answer: (C)

Unity of command means every member reports to a single immediate supervisor and receives orders through that one channel. When a subordinate takes a problem directly to a higher-ranking officer, that bypasses the established chain of command. This breaks the clear line of authority, risking conflicting directions, duplicated effort, and confusion about who is responsible for decisions. It also weakens supervision and accountability because the higher-ranking officer may lack full context, and the designated supervisor loses control over the situation. Keeping unity of command ensures consistent orders and a coherent approach to responding to the incident. While good communications and proper task distribution matter, this scenario most clearly violates the single, clear chain of command.