Home | | Principles of Management | Span of control: Factors Affecting, Advantages and Disadvantages

Chapter: Principles of Management : Organizing

Span of control: Factors Affecting, Advantages and Disadvantages

Span of Control means the number of subordinates that can be managed efficiently and effectively by a superior in an organization. It suggests how the relations are designed between a superior and a subordinate in an organization.

SPAN OF CONTROL

 

Span of Control means the number of subordinates that can be managed efficiently and effectively by a superior in an organization. It suggests how the relations are designed between a superior and a subordinate in an organization.

 

Factors Affecting Span of control:

 

Capacity of Superior:

 

Different ability and capacity of leadership, communication affect management of subordinates.

 

Capacity of Subordinates:

 

Efficient and trained subordinates affects the degree of span of management.

 

Nature of Work:

 

Different types of work require different patterns of management.

 

Degree of Centralization or Decentralization:

 

Degree of centralization or decentralization affects the span of management by affecting the degree of involvement of the superior in decision making.

 

Degree of Planning:

 

Plans which can provide rules, procedures in doing the work higher would be the degree of span of management.

 

Communication Techniques:

 

Pattern of communication, its means, and media affect the time requirement in managing subordinates and consequently span of management.

 

Use of Staff Assistance:

 

Use of Staff assistance in reducing the work load of managers enables them to manage more number of subordinates.

 

Supervision of others:

 

If subordinate receives supervision form several other personnel besides his direct supervisor. In such a case, the work load of direct superior is reduced and he can supervise more number of persons.

 

Span of control is of two types:

 

1. Narrow span of control: Narrow Span of control means a single manager or supervisor

 

oversees few subordinates. This gives rise to a tall organizational structure.


Advantages:

 

Close supervision

 

Close control of subordinates

 

Fast communication

 

Disadvantages:

 

            Too much control

 

            Many levels of management

 

            High costs

 

            Excessive distance between lowest level and highest level

 

 

Wide span of control: Wide span of control means a single manager or supervisor oversees a large number of subordinates. This gives rise to a flat organizational structure.


Advantages:

 

More Delegation of Authority

 

Development of Managers

 

Clear policies

 

Disadvantages:

 

 

Overloaded supervisors

 

Danger of superiors loss of control

 

Requirement of highly trained managerial personnel

 

Block in decision making

 

 

Study Material, Lecturing Notes, Assignment, Reference, Wiki description explanation, brief detail
Principles of Management : Organizing : Span of control: Factors Affecting, Advantages and Disadvantages |


Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, DMCA Policy and Compliant

Copyright © 2018-2023 BrainKart.com; All Rights Reserved. Developed by Therithal info, Chennai.