1.5.5 Span of Control

Question 1

What is the Span of Control?

Answer 1

issue that asks how many individuals should be placed in a group under one supervisor: What is the appropriate size of a work group? The number of subordinates assigned to each supervisor could vary along a continuum from few to many

Question 2

Organizations that use a broad span of control are…

Answer 2

flat. having relatively few hierarchical levels because many people work under the authority of a single supervisor

Question 3

Organization that use a narrow span of control are…

Answer 3

tall. each manager supervises only a few subordinates

allows for closer control over subordinates and greater personal contact between manager and subordinate

Question 4

What are some risks of a tall organization structure with a narrow span

Answer 4

that managers with a narrow span of control comes to know only two or three subordinates very well and fails to become acquainted with others in the hierarchy
Also, tall organizations often inhibit interpersonal communication within the organization

Question 5

Although a range of between four to six subordinates is often recommended, a much larger span of control may be appropriate depending on what four situational variables?

Answer 5

1. Contact required
2. Level of subordinate education and training
3. Ability to communicate
4. Nature of the task

Question 6

Explain contract required

Answer 6

Jobs that require frequent contact and a high degree of coordination between superior and subordinates should use narrower spans of control.

Question 7

Explain level of subordinate education and training

Answer 7

The skills and competence of subordinates influence how mush supervision they need and whether the span of control should be broad or narrow. Highly skilled employees and professionals who are well trained generally require less supervision because they know their jobs well and they largely supervise themselves

Question 8

Explain ability to communicate

Answer 8

Instructions, guidelines, and policies can be communicated to employees in a variety of methods. If all of the necessary instructions can be written and then disseminated, it is possible for one manger to supervise a large group. However, as communication becomes more difficult and job-related discussions become more important, a narrower span of control is appropriate to avoid overloading a supervisor

Question 9

Explain nature of the task

Answer 9

Jobs that are repetitive and stable require less supervision and are more amenable to wide spans of control. For this reason some field supervisors are able to supervise as many as 60 to 75 field hands in harvesting agricultural crops. However, when tasks are changed frequently a narrower span of control is appropriate.