It explains the tasks of every worker in an organization. In order to understand more about line, organization lets look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of line organization-if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'letslearnfinance_com-box-3','ezslot_1',106,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-letslearnfinance_com-box-3-0'); The first and foremost advantage of line organization is that it is very simple to understand and implement in the organization and hence there is no need to give extensive training to employees about the structure of the organization as all employees will know that flow of authority will be in a line and that too from top to bottom so there is no ambiguity and confusion. iv. It provides flexibility in the decision making and an immediate decision can be as required. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. If they are not able the enterprise will not be successful. Image Guidelines 4. Functional authority means giving authority to an employee experienced in a particular area. These are issues that are vital to the company's success, but which do not require a large work group to accomplish. It requires recruiting specialized employees who offer guidance to the line and staff officers. (v) Staff take credit if the programme (as per the advice of the staff) is successful and blame the line if it is not successful. So it can be operated simply and clearly. military, vertical, scalar, departmental organization. Further, the span of supervision theory says no executive in a line organization should be burdened with supervising more than a manageable number of subordinates. Moreover, an employee knows to whom he/she is responsible and who are responsible to him/her. Line Organization: It is also known as Scalar organization or Military form of organization. The authority is given with reference to the assignment of task. Moreover, there is a benefit of specialization, as in work is divided between the line and staff executives, and they focus on their respective area. Instability: As the success of the system mainly depends upon the ability of one or two persons, the whole organization shall upset and collapse if they leave the enterprise. The departmental manager is responsible or answerable to his immediate superior i.e. They are not provided with an opportunity to put forward their view point or problems or suggestions to persons at the top level. This is because of unified control. The clarity of authority and tasks within the company introduces discipline. All the departmental managers enjoy equal status and work independently. Since the manager has to take all important decisions, he can make changes if new situation warrants. Effective Communication: . Polska 114 60-401 Pozna bluewhale-press.com. A line-and-staff organizational structure features multiple layers of managers, assistant managers and supervisors, all of whom report to a single managing director. For example, at the lowest levels, all workers may perform a similar activity, but for control and supervision they may be divided into different groups, each placed under a foreman. Their boss is the foreman to whom they communicate their problems and suggestions and from whom they receive their orders. (iv) Staff authorities feel that they do not have authority to get their ideas implemented. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The reactions of subordinates also reach top management in a short span of time. 3. A line-staff organizational structure attempts to render a large and complex enterprise more flexible without sacrificing managerial authority. Survey respondents answered the question, "Please choose the top three leadership Similarly, each person derives authority from the superior above him. 5. This type of organisation is largely existing in modern industry. Exhibit 10.4 illustrates a staff or functional authority organisational structure. There are no staff personnel to advice line officers. The adjustments in the organisation can be easily made to suit the changing conditions. Thus, this system may encourage carelessness on the part of the staff officer. 3. WHO IS A STAFF MANAGER? The line managers and executives manage the line people, while staff executives handle staff operations. Or, airlifting Indians from strife-torn foreign countries (remember, Libya and Afghanistan). The subordinates start keeping distance from the superiors. If they are not able the enterprise will not be successful. For this reason, it is given the name line organization. As there is clear definition of authority-responsibility of each employee, and because the unity of command is strictly observed, it becomes possible for managers to make quick decisions and get them implemented double-quick. In an industrial concern, for instance, a foreman neither receives any instructions from, nor issues commands to, another foreman. Economical Disadvantages are: 1. Specialization. The leaders follow the line, staff, and functional authority. Classical theories of organization associated with Henri Fayol, Frederick W . And others may be good at execution but not so when it comes to planning. Often the managers are not able to communicate the job roles to the employees. 2. He need not to waste time in getting instructions from above. What happens when a department manager wants to pass some message to a subordinate in another department? (iv) It ensures excellent discipline in the enterprise because everyindividual knows to whom he is responsible. Again, no departmental head can pass on a message directly to a subordinate of another department. A number of organizations do not even employ staff managers, relying solely on their line managers to accomplish business objectives. In smaller organizations, where the work is streamlined and tasks are assigned, its the most effective way to achieve your goals. The line and staff officers perform their functions smoothly through better coordination and cooperation. They only impart their suggestions to line authorities. It can be easily understood by the employees. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". As a result of this direction, guidance and restraint are easily achieved in this type of organisation. For example, the functional structure provides all authority to the manager. Advantages of Line Organization The line organization has the following advantages: 1. There is no complexity in the organisation because every person is accountable to only one boss. Using the website without changing the cookie settings means that they will be stored on your end device. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". ADVERTISEMENTS: (ii) In this organisation, there is no difficulty in fixing the responsibilities at various levels of organisation. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Since the organization includes line and staff functions, decisions can be made easily. The concept of line organization holds that in any organization derived from a scalar process, there must be a single head who commands it. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. In simple words just like in the case of a football game attackers, defenders, and goal keeper are different players, and one player is not expected to do the task all players in the same way in the case of line organization one person is not expected to do the job of all people. Line should value the special skills of staff and similarly the staff should try to appreciate the difficulties in implementing new ideas. Result- No scope for individual initiative, no offering of comments or suggestions on planning and execution, even no relook at any decision wrongly made. One cannot defy the claim. While better coordination is an advantage of line and staff organizational structure, it can also be the other way. 6. Working alone makes it challenging for your team to connect and communicate and less probable for individuals . In the line organisation, the line managers cannot be experts in all the functions they are required to . APR what is it and how to calculate it for a loan? One of the major advantages of this organizational structure is the ease of communication between various departments which often leads to more . The quantum of authority is highest at the top and reduces at each successive level down the hierarchy. Hierarchy of Authority Levels 7. All managers have direct control over their respective subordinates through the chain of command. Thus if the Finance Manager has to convey something to a superintendent in the production department, he will have to send the word upwards to the General Manager and the General Manager will then pass it down to the Production Manager and the Production Manager will further pass it down to the Superintendent concerned. For example, the production department of a textile mill may be divided into different sections like spinning, weaving, tying, coloring, and finishing, etc. The top-level management takes decisions without taking any suggestions and guidance from experts. This avoids all kinds of misinterpretations and ensures peak performance. So line organisation enables the fixation of authority and responsibility. This organisation is a vertical structure where one person delegates authority to his subordinate and who in turn delegates to his subordinate and so on. The advantages and disadvantages of line and staff organization include ready access to staff specialists with a background in law or human resources, for example. Quick Decision: Quick decisions are taken by the employees because of unification of authority and responsibility. (vi) Flexibility Since each executive has sole responsibility in his own position and sphere of work, he can easily adjust the organisation to changes in the business situation. The line officers may become autocratic and start deciding things without consulting their subordinates. Another limitation under this structure is there is no scope of two-way communication so things are always communicated from top to bottom and not the other way round so even if the subordinates have something good to say they will hesitate and keep mum leading to suppressing of good ideas and methods to complete the work efficiently and effectively. The ultimate authority for taking all decisions lies with line officers. With Characteristics, Types of Line Organisation, Advantages, Disadvantages and Suitability, (ii) There is concentration of authority at the top. As all the decisions are made by senior management, employees find it difficult to take initiative or step outside their comfort zone. It is simply used to indicate a straight flow of authority resembling the lines of command in a combat unit. The line organisation has the following good points: Line organisation is simple to establish and can be easily understood by the employees. (d) Scope for favouritism There may be a good deal of nepotism and jobbery. (ii) There is concentration of authority at the top. Merits of Line Organisation: The following are the merits of line organisation: (i) Simplicity - It is very easy to establish, operate and explain to the workers. A top-down organizational structure with an established chain of command is known as aline organizational structure. For example, quality control officers may guide the production department in improving the stability of the product. A manager has control only over the subordinates of his department. Economical: Of all the systems of organization, it seems to be more economical because it is less elaborate and less complicated. The term military organisation is, therefore, rather misleading. (iv) There is scalar chain in line organization. In this type of organisation, the whole unit is divided into different departments that are convenient for control purposes. Line officers should give due consideration to staff advice. Quick Decision. (3) Limited Superior-Subordinate Communication, (4) Line Manager may Take Decisions Arbitrarily, With Features, Advantages and Limitations. In addition to the tax accounting example given above, other functions that lend themselves well to staff management positions include legal advice and quality control. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of . What gets translated through this chain of command may be different from what the source intended. It is extremely difficult for one person to handle activities of diverse nature. 7. Teamined.com is a meeting room for employer and employee that will help you build positive employer branding or get your dream job. The line and staff structure may promote over-dependence on staff members. Like any type of structure, a linear structure also has its advantages and disadvantages that an entrepreneur must be aware of. 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