Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) Practice Test

What principle ensures that one person is responsible for a specific task within a fire department?

1. Span of control

2. Delegation of authority

3. Unity of command

4. Division of labor

The correct answer is: Unity of command

The principle that ensures one person is responsible for a specific task within a fire department is unity of command. This principle is essential in maintaining clear lines of authority and responsibility. It establishes that every individual in the organization reports to one supervisor, thereby preventing confusion and overlapping duties. This is particularly important in high-pressure environments like fire departments, where effective communication and decision-making are critical for safety and operational efficiency. Unity of command helps streamline operations, ensuring that each task has a designated leader who can be held accountable for its success or failure. This clarity fosters better coordination among team members and enhances the ability to respond quickly to emergencies. While the other principles, like span of control and division of labor, play important roles within organizational structures, they do not specifically address the issue of assigning responsibility for tasks in the same direct manner as unity of command.