Span of Management

MGT160

SPAN OF
MANAGEMENT

Span of management
 The number of individuals a manager

supervises.

 Job descriptions detail the responsibilities and

tasks associated with a given job.

Factors That Influence The Span of Management
 Similarity of functions

 if similarity of subordinates’ activities increases, the span of

management appropriate for the situation widens.

 Geographic continuity

 the closer subordinates are physically, the more of them

managers can supervise effectively.

 Complexity of functions

 the more difficult and involved the activities are, the more

difficult it is to manage a large number of individuals effectively.

 Coordination

 the greater the amount of time that must be spent on such

coordination, the smaller span of management should be.

 Planning

 the more time managers must spend on planning activities, the

fewer individuals they can manage effectively.

Major Factors that Influence the
Span of Management

Height of Organization Chart
 There is a definite relationship between span

of management and the height of an organization chart
 ↑Height of the chart, Span of management <
 ↓Height of the chart, Span of management >

Height of Organization Chart

Flat structure is and organization chart characterized by few levels and a relatively wide span of management.

Tall structure is an organization chart characterized by many levels and a relatively narrow span of management. Scalar Relationship
 Refer to the chain-of-command positioning

of individuals on an organization chart.

 Chain of Command
 The line of authority and responsibility that flows

throughout the organization.

 Unity of Command
 A principle that each employee in the

organization is accountable to one, and only one, supervisor.

Types of Organizational Authority
 Line authority
 The position authority (given and defined by the
organization)