2- Company Officer- Organizational Structure

Question 1

The principle of _________ is commonly used in the fire and emergency services, defined as having an uninterrupted series of steps or a chain of command. Decisions and information are are directed from the top of this organizational structure down through the intermediate levels to the base. Feedback and information, in turn, are transmitted up from the bottom, through the structure, to the top positions.

Answer 1

Scalar Structure

Question 2

_____ and _____ are terms that refer to an organizational concept that separates fire and emergency services personnel into two distinct groups.

Answer 2

LINE and STAFF

Question 3

_______ personnel: Those who deliver services to the public or external customers; typical functions include fire suppression, EMS, inspections, education, and investigations.

Answer 3

LINE personnel

**Prevention and inspections fall under line personnel

Question 4

_______ personnel: Those who provide support to the line personnel and internal or external customers; typical functions are training, logistics, auxiliary organizations, and personnel administration.

Answer 4

STAFF personnel

Question 5

______ refers to the legal ability of an individual to make and implement decisions for which the individual is held accountable.

Answer 5

Authority

Question 6

What are the two types of decision-making models?

Answer 6

Centralized authority and decentralized authority

Question 7

______ is a decision making model where decisions are made by one person at the top of the structure. It works well in smaller organizations, such as an individual engine company. In larger organizations, the leader’s span of control may be exceeded unless decision-making authority is delegated.

Answer 7

Centralized Authority

Question 8

______ is a decision making model where decision-making authority should be delegated to the lowest level possible. Decision-making authority is limited to only those tasks over which personnel have been given authority.

Answer 8

Decentralized Authority

Question 9

A chief may _____ authority to make certain decisions only in specific areas. For example, a chief may dictate what tasks are to be performed but delegate to the company officer the authority to decide when and in what order the tasks are performed.

Answer 9

Decentralize

Question 10

______ of authority allows most matters to be handled expeditiously. Making decisions at lower levels in the organization frees upper management personnel to concentrate on other areas of responsibility. The details resulting from a decision do not have to be reported, but the effects of a decision do.

Answer 10

Decentralization

Question 11

______ is the process of providing subordinates with the authority, direction, and resources needed to complete an assignment. The decision to do so is often difficult.

Answer 11

Delegation

Question 12

______ means that each person within an organization reports to one, and only one, designated authority. This depends on the use of the chain of command and functional supervision.

Answer 12

Unity of command

Question 13

______ is the path of responsibility from the top of the organization to the bottom and vice versa. Although each member reports directly to one immediate supervisor, all members throughout the ______ are still indirectly responsible to the chief.

Answer 13

Chain of command

Question 14

______ is when a subordinate goes above their immediate supervisor and takes a problem to a higher officer, breaking the chain of command. This can be destructive to organizational unity and cohesiveness.

Answer 14

Sidestepping

Question 15

A subordinate may be justified in bypassing the chain of command (using ________) if there is a mandatory reporting requirement.

Answer 15

Skip level notification

Question 16

_______ is an organizational principle that allows workers to report to more than one supervisor. It deviates from unity of command when personnel are assigned by their supervisor or a senior officer to perform duties that fall under the authority of another supervisor.

Answer 16

Functional supervision

Question 17

Span of control varies with the situation but somewhere between _______ is optimal.

Answer 17

3-7

NIMS-ICS model is based on 1:3-7, with an optimum ratio of 1:5

Question 18

______ consists of dividing large jobs into smaller tasks that are assigned to specific individuals.

Answer 18

Division of labor

Question 19

______ enables different companies to work together effectively because each company officer understands the capabilities, requirements, and needs of the others. When staffing is limited, this allows personnel to fill various roles and positions as needed.

Answer 19

Cross-training