What is Span of Control? Meaning.
Span of Control is the number of people/subordinates that
can be effectively managed by one manager. It is an organizational theory
term that refers to how relationships are structured between leaders and subordinates
in organizations. A wide span of control exists when a person oversees many
subordinates. A narrow span of control exists when a leader oversees few subordinates.
The optimal Span of Control is dependent upon a great number
of factors, some of which include:
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The nature of the work of the subordinates.
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The skills, capabilities, experience, seniority, qualifications
of the subordinates.
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The skills, capabilities, experience, seniority, qualifications
of the manager.
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The use of information technology.
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The detail at which work rules and procedures have been
formalized and are known by the subordinates.
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The applied management style (command and control or democratic
/ affiliative).
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The desired depth of the hierarchy in an organization (steep
or flat).
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Organizational approaches (Self-directed
Teams, Empowerment,
cross-functional teams, etc.)
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Key Considerations in Deciding Upon your Organizational Design Organization Set Up, Organizational Structure, Organization Structure, Centralization, Span of Control, Departmentaliz When setting up a business or organization, it is important to think about the roles, processes and relationships within (...)
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Ways to Increase the Span of Control Organization Design, Job Design There are multiple ways to increase the span of control. These are the main ones:
Appoint an adjunct (assistant) man (...)
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2 Meanings of Span of Control Organization Design, Job Design Be alert for 2 meanings of the term “Span of Control”.
1. The actual number of employees (subordinates) that is (...)
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Compare also:
Flat Organizational
Structure | Covert
Leadership | Stretch
Goals
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