Difference Between Unity of Command vs Unity of Direction:
| Basis | Unity of Command | Unity of Direction |
| Meaning | It implies that a sub-ordinate should receive orders & instructions from only one boss. | It means one head, one plan for a group of activities having similar objectives. |
| Nature | It is related to the functioning of personnel. | It is related to the functioning of departments or organizations as a whole. |
| Necessity | It is necessary to fix the responsibility of each subordinate. | It is necessary for sound organization. |
| Advantage | It avoids conflicts, confusion & chaos. | It avoids duplication of efforts and wastage of resources. |
| Result | It leads to better superior sub-ordinate relationships. | It leads to the smooth running of the enterprise. |
Therefore, it is obvious that they are different from each other, but they are dependent on each other, i.e. unity of direction is a pre-requisite for unity of command. But it does not automatically come from the unity of direction.