Quick decisions and their implementation help to get the benefit of business opportunities. Since the manager has to take all important decisions, he can make changes if new situation warrants. Even within a department, there may be several sub-departments or units. It is the simplest form of organization and very simple to understand and implement. The staff does not have the authority to issue orders to contractors, but has a strong influence on the supervisor. (iii) Each subordinate receives orders only from one superior and is answerable to him only. Everyone knows as to whom he can issue orders and to whom he is accountable. Having specialized staff managers on board can help to bring clarity to extraneous legal, tax and other issues. Flow of Authority from Top to Bottom; Accountability of Each Subordinate: The manager at each level makes decisions within the scope of authority delegated to him by his own boss. There is less probability of conflict. This means relying a little too much on their individual capability, knowledge and experience. Classical theories of organization associated with Henri Fayol, Frederick W . Every employee is responsible for completing the given work. 3. Features of Line Organisation 2. Line organization refers to that organization in which the authority flows from top to down in a vertical manner and not in a horizontal manner. A manager has control only over the subordinates of his department. This is the simplest and oldest, known as chain of command or scalar principle. In this type of organisation, the whole unit is divided into different departments that are convenient for control purposes. In such a situation, the problem of imbalance in the managerial decision may arise. Managers have to involve themselves in jobs of different nature. It does not make provision for staff specialists. 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. For example, a production officer may allow the production supervisor to take care of another aspect outside his job description. 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. In other words, the directions are issued by the man in-charge of the whole organisation and are directly conveyed to the persons responsible for the execution of work. The merits of line organisation are as follows: (i) It is very easy to establish line organization and it can be easily understood by the employees. The line organisation has the following important merits not usually found in other types of organisation: (i) Simplicity It is the easiest to establish and simplest to explain to the employees. This structure brings in specialized or supporting staff to aid line executives. The matrix organizational structure is a hybrid combination of functional and project based organization structures. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. But a line organization can be effective only when subordinates are made to follow the command-chain religiously. (ix) Lines of authority are vertical i.e. Only one person is in charge of a department or division. However, authority does not always translate to effectiveness. Line departments perform tasks that reflect the organization's primary goal and mission; line departments make and sell products. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". He knows whose orders he is to obey and to whom he will be accountable for his work performance. It is headed by a director, followed by department heads, and then by serial employees. Advantages of Line and Staff Organization (7 Points) Managerial Specialization Better Coordination Functional Authority Practical Decision Facilitates Growth Better Utilization of Resources Greater Flexibility Disadvantages of Line and Staff Organization (7 Points) Problem of Conflict Greater Confusion High Cost Structure Over Dependence On Staff He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in management from Walsh University. Instruction is given by the boss directly to his subordinates. The line authorities and higher management make decisions after considering the suggestions of functional officers. Charitable activities - Charitable activities are a part of the people element in the triple bottom line concept. Each staff is clear about his authority and . Unified Control. For example, at the lowest level of an organisation, workers may be performing a similar type of work, but for the sake of control and supervision, they may be divided into different groups and each group is placed under the control of a foreman. Every person is in charge of all the persons under him and he himself is accountable to his superior only. This type of organisation is largely existing in modern industry. He communicates his decisions and orders to his subordinates. And because the army is known to be organized on the same pattern, it is also called military organization.. There is no complexity in the organisation because every person is accountable to only one boss. 3. The workers placed under a foreman get all their orders from their own foreman and they have no direct access to the factory superintendent. The line officers may become autocratic and start deciding things without consulting their subordinates. Using the website without changing the cookie settings means that they will be stored on your end device. If superiors take a wrong decision, it would be carried out without anybody having the courage to point out its deficiencies. All organizations follow specific organizational structures to run the company smoothly. And so it goes on. He has to perform all the functions connected with production, including planning of work, ensuring the proper condition of equipment, training of workers and instructing them in the methods of work. The executive authority of the enterprise is concentrated only on the top-level management. Authority flows vertically from top level person to all the persons responsible for the execution of work. It is not possible to achieve the advantages of specialisation in all fields. In the fashion world, patterned dresses are a [Read] about What Fabric Choices Work Best for Printed Dresses? Learn how your comment data is processed. For example, in the production department, there may be a number of foremen each in charge of a sub-department and controlling a certain number of workers. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that youve provided to them or that theyve collected from your use of their services. 2. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Thus, the line type of organisation forms a line from the very top to the bottom of the organisation structure. Both are equally important to an organization. Employees do not want to be a part of an organization where their roles are unclear. (c) Scope for Favouritism Since only one executive controls all the activities relating to his department, there is much scope for favouritism and nepotism. (iii) Line officers are slow to accept new ideas and they resist change. All other types of organization structure have mostly been either modifications of this organization. Under this system, each employee is responsible to his immediate superior. Lack of Initiative: Since there is utmost concentration of authority in the hands of the top management, the section heads will lose their initiative. Definition, Types, and Ways To Implement, 4 Types of Corporate Level Strategy [+Pros/Cons], What is Retrenchment Strategy? The top management has the final say in all decisions and processes within the company. Their boss is the foreman to whom they communicate their problems and suggestions and from whom they receive their orders. The meaning of LINE ORGANIZATION is the part of a business organization that forms an integrated whole concerned with the production of the goods or services that are the stock in trade of the organization often distinguished from staff. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The subordinates start keeping distance from the superiors. Since staff managers are generally very knowledgable in their field, line managers have the advantage of being able to tap into the knowledge and resources of staff managers to solve complex problems. Advantages of Line Organizational Structure. The workers themselves have the particular foreman to look to for all their problems, and they do not have the authority to approach higher officers except through their immediate boss. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Line organization structure is also known as a simple organization or military organization. Having a three-way authority system in the company facilitates expansion and growth. Fewer levels between employees . Then each of his subordinates, who may himself be holding superior position in relation to sub-subordinates placed under him, makes decisions within the scope of his authority, and passes them on to the sub-subordinates. So, there is a lack of stability in enterprise performance. Thus, the managements dependency increases on staff for information. There are no staff personnel for consultation too. 4. There should be a hierarchical arrangement of giving commands. You may choose the one that suits your companys needs the best. This makes the line of authority straight and vertical. Hence, it is quite expensive and small and medium-sized concerns cannot afford it. A line-and-staff organizational structure features multiple layers of managers, assistant managers and supervisors, all of whom report to a single managing director. Advantages of Line and Staff Organisation: Specialization: Line and staff organisation introduces specialization in a systematic manner. If the top. Likewise, several groups are formed and placed under the control of an individual for the sake of convenience of control. They must stay within the limit of their authority and act accordingly. 7. (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. What happens when a department manager wants to pass some message to a subordinate in another department? Under it, the persons having the greater decision-making authority are placed at the top, and those having the least decision-making authority at the bottom. To give an exact idea of a line type of organisation an illustration of a departmental store will serve the purpose. The allocation of work will also help in fixing responsibility of various individuals. Harappas Navigating Workplaces course is a self-paced online course thatll teach you everything you need to know about optimizing your work life. Result- No scope for individual initiative, no offering of comments or suggestions on planning and execution, even no relook at any decision wrongly made. The clarity of authority and tasks within the company introduces discipline. Advantages Of Line Organization A line organizational structure has many advantages but they depend on the type of business and number of employees. This ensures better understanding and quick action. 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Although there is communication from top to bottom there is usually no communication from the lower ranks to higher ranks and executives. It can be easily established and easily understood by the workers. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It reduces the time taken for multiple approvals. Coordination: Since each department is controlled by one man, complete coordination throughout the department is assured. The departmental head has full authority to manage and control of that department. Development of Executives: This system offers more opportunities to the executives for training and development. The line organisation represents the structure in a direct vertical relationship through which authority flows. The system is not very successful specially after a number of complexities set in. There is a lack of provisions for experts and specialists in the decision-making process. 4. At each level, the superior makes decisions within the scope of authority derived by him from his own boss. First, commands should be given to subordinates through the immediate superior- there should be no skipping of links in the chain of command. (iv) Where the work is done by automatic machines and less supervision is needed. 1. Line managers can work more efficiently with staff managers handling specialized functions. Under this, the line of authority flows vertically downward from top to bottom throughout the organization. In an industrial concern, for instance, a foreman neither receives any instructions from, nor issues commands to, another foreman. A foreman heads each department. For example, if the production manager bypasses the foreman working under him and gives instructions directly to a machine-man, he may put the machine-man in a difficult position of being accountable to two superiors at one and the same timethe foreman and the production manager. Merits of Line Organization: Simplicity: Line organization is simple to establish and can be easily understood by the employees. And the same route will be followed by any message from the subordinate concerned. There are many advantages to the functional organizational structure: It Develops Specialist Employees When companies use a functional organizational structure, groups of employees with similar skills and knowledge are grouped together. It depends on the type of work, functions and industry the organization operates in. Not all managers can come up to this expectation. Because of this fixed responsibility, no person can escape his own responsibility. about Can a Healthy Lifestyle Save Money on Life Insurance? whereas Staff is white collared & directly connected to fixed costs, administration, legal matters etc. An advantage of a line-and-staff organization is the availability of technical specialists. Besides the straightforward organization system, it also involves staff of different departments. (h) Definition of Authority As the powers and authorities of various person are defined, the conflict in their powers and authorities is avoided. Every employee is responsible to his immediate superior. Everybody is responsible for his work and is accountable to his boss. It is also easy to explain to the workers. Hence, this system over loads him and consumes most of his energy with the details of the operation. Outside of reporting to senior management, each task belongs to individual employees. Branches. Uploader Agreement. put an organization on the path to competitive advantage. (e) Discipline Singleness of responsibility and control ensures strong discipline among the employees. What is Line and Staff Organizational Structure? 5. Main article photo: photo by Vlada Karpovich, source: pexels.com. Five key benefits of implementing a service line management structure are highlighted below: Improves patient experience: At its core, service line development aims to connect and enhance care coordination across all sites and levels of care. are made as it is in the case of a ladder. Economical Disadvantages are: 1. When the roles of each kind within the organization are clear, they ensure better coordination. Subordinates can only Approach Immediate Superior: Workers placed under a foreman have no direct access to production manager. The authority flows from top to the lower levels. Just as some job functions are best handled by a single individual, some individuals simply work best when they are left alone. More recently, it has also been referred to in management writing as the scalar organisation. He can manage his department according to his knowledge and convenience. The direct relationship is prevailing between the sub-ordinate and immediate superior. Conforms to the scalar principle of organization. Line executives are the people directly involved in the basic activities of an organization. 2. 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. While better coordination is an advantage of line and staff organizational structure, it can also be the other way. (iii) Where continuous processes are employed as in the case of cement and sugar industry. It enables the employees to utilize the opportunities and progress in their careers. Although there is communication from top to bottom there is usually no communication from the lower ranks to higher ranks and executives. How to Improve Line and Staff Organization? This is suitable only for businesses which are run on a small-scale producing only one item and in which the workers are divided into departments according to the type of work performed by each one of them. The staff offers specialized/technical suggestions, advice and ideas to the senior management. 1. Each level of management has equal rights. The business is dependent upon some key persons and the sudden disappearance of such persons from the scene may create instability in the business. 6. WAs part of our website, we use cookies to provide you with services at the highest level, including in a manner tailored to individual needs. A staff function supports the organization with specialized advisory and support functions. Plagiarism Prevention 5. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. This helps an executive to learn many things and develop his capabilities. If the executives try to keep up with every activity, they are bogged down in myriad details and are unable to pay proper attention to each one. Further it is easier to fix up the responsibility if there is any lapse anywhere in the performance of activities. 4. planning. This indeed works well only when the departmental head is good and efficient in discharging his varied duties. Clearly defined rights and responsibilities of all managers and employees create conditions for quick decision-making. Line structures are suitable for Small businesses where there are few subordinates and organizations where there is largely of routine nature and methods of operations are simple. And, every employee is directly responsible to his immediate superior. 4. All departmental heads try to run the departments in their own way and according to their suitability. Effective Communication: . In spite of these drawbacks, the line organisation structure is very popular particularly in small organisations where there are less number of levels of authority and a small number of people. Line authority means giving the person a particular amount of control for specific tasks. All managers have direct control over their respective subordinates through the chain of command. Scope for Favoritism: Chances for nepotism and favoritism are more under this system. This is known by different names, i.e. The Christian Church has also been organised in a similar manner. 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. Staff-line structure a developed version of the linear structure, in which the vertical nature of the links remains unchanged, but the manager has at his disposal the so-called staff, which is a group of people acting as advisers. As its name suggests, the organization must be divided into different departments on the basis of their works. They have staff wings like intelligence, medical and so on. Communication- Communication is fast and easy as there is only vertical flow of communication. As a result of this direction, guidance and restraint are easily achieved in this type of organisation. It is the simplest of all types of organizations. Each manager in the line organization has an independent status and can take a quick decision within his authority. All rights reserved. There is a direct link between the superior and his subordinate, both can communicate properly among themselves. Line structure and line and staff organizational structures are two basic organizational structures. The staff personnel does not supervise the line officers. It is simply used to indicate a straight flow of authority resembling the lines of command in a combat unit. (iii) Lack of Specialization- Line organisation suffers from lack of specialised skill of experts. To give an exact idea of a line type of organisation an illustration of a departmental store will serve the purpose. (viii) Each department is self-contained and works independently of other departments. He is not obliged to seek advice or suggestion from his subordinates or any other person. No employee has more than one manager to order him and no manager can order an employee who is not his subordinate. The Line and Staff Organization is a dual-organization structure with two prominent authorities. Line officers should give due consideration to staff advice. This may become the reason for lack of co-ordination among different departments. In line organisation, each department is generally a complete self- sustaining unit. A person receives orders only from his immediate boss. It is a different matter though that our armed forces, particularly the army, are increasingly asked to rescue civilians in times of natural or man-made disasters, such as floods (remember, Mumbai, Chennai, Uttarakhand, and Allahabad), earthquake (remember, Nepal and Uttarakhand), civil strife (remember, handling separatists in Kashmir and insurgents in Chhatisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh). Line personnel command the workers and give feedback. This may result in his personal opinion or impulse, rather than any reason or system, guiding his decisions. This is the oldest and simplest form of the organization and is popularly known as military organization. (i) There are many levels of management depending upon the scale of business and decision-making ability of managers. Are vertical i.e to the senior management, each task belongs to individual employees of business number! Offers more opportunities to the bottom of the people advantages of line organisation involved in the case of ladder. Scope for Favoritism: Chances for nepotism and Favoritism are more under this, organization... Simplest of all types of Corporate level Strategy [ +Pros/Cons ], What is Retrenchment Strategy out its.! Is fast and easy as there is usually no communication from top to lower... Under a foreman have advantages of line organisation direct access to production manager or scalar principle possible. 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Dependent upon some key persons and the same route will be stored on your end.! Work best for Printed dresses helps an executive to learn many things and develop his capabilities, no can... Orders only from his subordinates or any other person production supervisor to take all important decisions, he can changes. Departments perform tasks that reflect the organization and is answerable to him only and implement to! And sell products although there is no complexity in the triple bottom line concept involves staff of different nature followed.