Which is the one-supervisor principle?

• A. Discipline
• B. Division of labor
• C. Span of control
• D. Unity of command

Answer: (D)

Unity of command means that each firefighter reports to a single supervisor. This keeps directions clear, avoids conflicting instructions, and makes accountability straightforward. In practice, having one boss per person helps ensure that actions on scene are coordinated and aligned with the overall plan, which is crucial during emergencies. The other concepts relate to different ideas: discipline is about enforcing rules, division of labor is about breaking work into specialized tasks, and span of control deals with how many subordinates a supervisor can effectively manage. But the essential idea behind the one-supervisor principle is that a single reporting relationship prevents confusion and maintains a clear, orderly chain of command.