(ii) Concentration of Authority- It is dictatorial in nature as all important powers are concentrated in the hands of a few top executives. Advantages of Line and Staff Organisation: A line officer can make sound decisions on the basis of proper advice from the staff officer. (5) Co-ordination between different units is being achieved by co-operation between departmental heads or executives responsible to conduct different units. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What happens when a department manager wants to pass some message to a subordinate in another department? 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. Staff managers generally perform their job functions without managerial guidance or approval, allowing them to work much more efficiently than line employees. Each department is under the control of a departmental manager who is responsible to the superior over him. In a vertical companywhich was most the most common business model in organizations for the much of the mid- to late-20th centurylines Aline organizational structurehas many advantages but they depend on the type of business and number of employees. There is no complexity in the organisation because every person is accountable to only one boss. (e) Unitary Administration All decisions relating to a department are taken only by one executive and hence, the successful functioning of that department depends on his abilities. Line organisation suffers from lack of specialised skill of experts. This can be effective when organizations are short on time. Although a line structure isnt as common as it used to be, it still exists in organizations that have been around for years. For example, the person heading the marketing department will have the knowledge and skill necessary to carry the process with full responsibility and successfully run his team. 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. Everybody knows his work and also to whom he is responsible. Account Disable 12. Expert Advice: The staff officers provide expert advice and guidance to line officers and by this, the enterprise as a whole gets benefit. Matthew was a floor manager at a local restaurant in Wales. There are no staff personnel for consultation too. Simplicity: Line organisation is simple to establish and can be easily understood by the employees. And so it goes on. All the departmental heads are responsible to their immediate superior i.e. Flexibility- Since each departmental head has sole responsibility for his department, he can easily adjust the organization to changes in business situation. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. And others may be good at execution but not so when it. ii. 4. Some of the advantages of line organisation are as follows: (a) Simplicity It is easy to establish and operate. Line Organisation is the oldest form of organization. (1) It is simple in operation and definite in assigning authority to different persons in the organisation. The staff offers specialized/technical suggestions, advice and ideas to the senior management. Plagiarism Prevention 5. 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. Unified Control- Since the orders are given by one superior, there is no confusion among the subordinates. An advantage of a line-and-staff organization is the availability of technical specialists. Clearly defined rights and responsibilities of all managers and employees create conditions for quick decision-making. There is a likelihood that some persons may be given favours and deserving persons, on the other hand, may be ignored. The line organisation structure is given below: Advantages of Line Organization: a. They may move higher in the hierarchy by correctly implementing their skills in the processes. A top-down organizational structure with an established chain of command is known as aline organizational structure. They judge the performance of persons according to their own yardsticks. Employees are expected to work on the same tasks without upskilling or learning about other aspects of the business. Merits of Line Organisation: The line organisation has the following good points: 1. Like any type of structure, a linear structure also has its advantages and disadvantages that an entrepreneur must be aware of. Storage Discipline: The vertical arrangement of authority and the singleness of responsibility ensures excellent discipline. Often the managers are not able to communicate the job roles to the employees. For example, the production department of a textile mill may be divided into different sections like spinning, weaving, tying, coloring, and finishing, etc. Lundy, It is characterised by direct lines of authority flowing from the top to the bottom of the organisational hierarchy and lines of responsibility flowing in an opposite but equally direct manner.. 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.. 2. There are no supportive units for accounting, labour, etc. (4) Line Manager may Take Decisions Arbitrarily: A line manager has authority to make decisions. Content Guidelines 2. This is a very simple organizational structure to understand and manage due to the implementation of the scalar chain of command (formal line of authority which moves from highest to lowest rank in a straight line). There is a scope for favouritism in line organisation. . Advantages of Line Organizational Structure. Required fields are marked *. Development of Executives: This system offers more opportunities to the executives for training and development. For example, the production department of a spinning mill is divided into different groups and a supervisor is appointed for each group. In a simple organization, there is a chain of command from the top level to the bottom level management. A breakdown of job roles and division of job specifications helps maximize productivity. Classical theories of organization associated with Henri Fayol, Frederick W . iii. (ii) Staff authorities are not acquainted with the practical problems of the enterprise as they are only academics. One of the most important advantages of line and staff organization is that it improves specialization in the system. Due to the fact that decision-making authority is. from top to bottom. Each section in charge has direct control over his section. Advantages of Line and Staff Organization. Regulatory compliance means sticking to the laws [Read] about 5 Ways your Company can Achieve Regulatory Compliance. Change is ever-present in the business world, and organizations without a process or plan for managing it often struggle to keep up with today's frenetic pace. (f) Lack of Co-operation One executive controls the various activities of a department and gets undue importance while the importance of other people in the department is not recognised. In spite of many limitations, the importance of line organisation cannot be minimised. At departmental level manager is in charge and he can direct the activities of his juniors. If superiors take a wrong decision, it would be carried out without anybody having the courage to point out its deficiencies. Thus, this system can be successfully practised where: (a) The business is carried on a small scale with a small number of subordinates and operatives. All other types of organization structure have mostly been either modifications of this organization. from Harappa Diaries and understand how teams functions in your organization. If, therefore, something happens to an efficient manager, the future of the department and of the concern as a whole would be in jeopardy. If the managers treat the employees as a pendulum between them, they will most likely get tired of their job roles. Line officers should give due consideration to staff advice. The line office cannot devote sufficient time to each and every work and are over loaded with responsibilities. 9. The simple organization is adjustable according to the changing business environment. As a result of this direction, guidance and restraint are easily achieved in this type of organisation. This may lead to wrong adjustments or wrong decision-making on the part of the executives. It will hamper their effectiveness. Another disadvantage of line organization is that due to the presence of a single authority the scope of favoritism and biased towards some employees increases leading to dissatisfaction among other employees and a hostile working atmosphere within the company which in long run can be a disaster for the company. And because the army is known to be organized on the same pattern, it is also called military organization.. Every employee is responsible to his immediate superior. You have to be mindful of the levels of management when you want to communicate or exchange ideas. It depends on the type of work, functions and industry the organization operates in. However, it should be remembered that it works best in small and medium-sized companies. All persons at the same level of authority should be independent of one another. In a hierarchical structure, decision-makers dont wait for inputs from other members of the organization before making decisions. For example, the functional structure provides all authority to the manager. Under this structure, there is a direct line of authority from the superior to the subordinate level through an unbroken chain. Line and staff structure is adapted by medium to large organizations with several 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 Profitability Organizations save an average of $11,000 per year per part-time telecommuter, or 21% higher profitability. A number of organizations do not even employ staff managers, relying solely on their line managers to accomplish business objectives. The line organization has the following advantages: 1. Vertical Organizations A "vertical" company is known for having a large staff of middle managers between the CEO and the front line. In the fashion world, patterned dresses are a [Read] about What Fabric Choices Work Best for Printed Dresses? The subordinates should get commands only through their immediate superiors. This type of organisation helps in co-ordination and control. 2. Every organizational system comes with some pros and cons. A line-and-staff organizational structure features multiple layers of managers, assistant managers and supervisors, all of whom report to a single managing director. The quantum of authority is highest at the top and reduces at each successive level down the hierarchy. It is the simplest form of organization and very simple to understand and implement. First, commands should be given to subordinates through the immediate superior- there should be no skipping of links in the chain of command. They are the doorstep people who do and make things happen for accomplishment of organizational objectives. Based on this statistical analysis, remote work is not going anywhere . Sound Decisions: In this type, the decisions are made by experts and hence, there is a possibility of making sound managerial decisions. Telegram ChannelJoin telegram channel https://t.me/skillicsFunctional Structure https://youtu.be/CkmjGWAv5t4Divisional Structurehttps://youtu.be/SxCT5cRuGPAM. Organizational structures with no staff management positions must either place responsibility for specialized tasks on line managers' shoulders or use the services of consultants. It also governs the . They are not provided with an opportunity to put forward their view point or problems or suggestions to persons at the top level. Simplicity: This system is very simple and can operate very easily. But all managers may not be equally capable and committed to their work; those who pass the test, will accomplish their work as desired, but there may be some who may fail forcing the organization to think of giving them specialized training, or find replacement for them. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Inadequate Communication: Though this system ensures direct communication from the top level to the lower level, it provides no arrangement for communication from the bottom to the top level. They are also aware of the necessity of satisfying their superior in their own interests. Simplicity: This system is very simple and can operate very easily. D. core competencies., Companies benefit today by inter-firm cooperation. The departmental head has full authority to manage and control of that department. Line organization structure chart tends to simplify and clarify responsibility, authority, and accountability relationships. Employees are fully aware of the boundaries of their jobs. In line organisation final decision-making is done by the top management. The message can be passed on only through the manager who has the authority over both the departments. Span of control Chain of Command in Organizational Structure, Advantages & Disadvantages of an Egalitarianism Company. Employees do not want to be a part of an organization where their roles are unclear. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It does not involve a large number of people. A line organizational structure helps build rapport between senior management and employees. At each level, the superior makes decisions within the scope of authority derived by him from his own boss. Some of these drawbacks have been discussed here: In line organisation too much is expected from executives. Advantages of Line Organization. Existence of superior-subordinate relationship. Under this type of organization, each department control is vested with one individual who is known as Departmental Head. They perform all types of works of creative and innovative nature. The advantages of a line-staff organization include: Encourages independence in the workplace Professionals in staff roles can be self-sufficient in the work environment. In case, the manager of one department wishes to issue guidance or directions to a subordinate in another department, he will go up the line and convey the message to the top manager who will then pass it down the line in the other department. Where the process of production is continuous or special. They constitute the backbone of an organization. (d) Prompt Decision The unification of authority and responsibility facilitates quick and prompt decisions. Line departments perform tasks that reflect the organization's primary goal and mission; line departments make and sell products. This makes the line of authority straight and vertical. Again, even within a department, there may be several sub-departments. Hence, nobody is escaped from the responsibility. about How does a Valuator Value a Business? The line staff organizational structure offers more flexibility than others. A person receives orders only from his immediate boss. Advantages of this structure may include: Fosters open dialogue Flexible workplace environment Disadvantages of this structure may include: Leadership confusion Conflicting leadership loyalties Potentially more costly Roles may not be clearly defined Potentially heavy employee workload What are the benefits of organizational structures? There may be a good deal of nepotism and jobbery and personal prejudices. Merits of Line Organisation: The line organisation has the following good points: ADVERTISEMENTS: 1. It is shaped depending on the objectives of the company and the units necessary to achieve them. (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. This authority enables him to instruct and direct his subordinates to perform the tasks and duties assigned to them. Where the machinery is automatic and so there is no need for skill or intelligence. Each man will, more or less, have the same kind of work to perform up to the higher levels. Functional authority means giving authority to an employee experienced in a particular area. It explains the tasks of every worker in an organization. Accountability This approach makes it much easier to assign responsibility for actions and results. One person should get orders from one supervisor only. When we draw the line it is always straight the only point is it can be either be drawn vertically or horizontally and in the case of the company that follows the line organization structure same thing applies. Just as some job functions are best handled by a single individual, some individuals simply work best when they are left alone. Everything you need to know about the line organisational . He can take a decision according to the requirements of the situation. Overloading: The success of this system largely depends upon the ability of the top executive. 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. Your email address will not be published. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. A line-staff organizational structure attempts to render a large and complex enterprise more flexible without sacrificing managerial authority. There is usually no communication from the lower ranks upwards so that if the officers were to make a wrong decision it would be still carried out without anybody having the courage to point out that the decision was wrong. Reference for Business: Line-and-Staff Organizations, TransTutors.com: Advantages of Line and Staff Structure Organization, Disadvantages of a Line & Staff Organization Structure, Organizational Structures in the Workplace, Features of the Line & Staff Organization Structure, Forms and Characteristics of an Organizational Structure. (d) Scope for favouritism There may be a good deal of nepotism and jobbery. It improves different coordinations among all employees and personnel. The line organisation represents the structure in a direct vertical relationship through which authority flows. They should state reasons in case they cannot accept the advice. The superior can exercise effective control and supervise over the persons under him. In this type, a greater variety of responsible jobs are available and this provides more opportunities for advancement of capable workers. Staff authority refers to advising the people with line authority for better results. Finding out your culture fit can help you thrive in the workplace. This finding underscores the increasingly recognized need for companies to improve their I&D engagement with core-business managers. The production manager, for example, will not interfere in the decision-making by sales manager, or finance manager, and vice-versa. Where the scale of business is comparatively small. Even within a department, there may be several sub-departments or units. This type of organisation is largely existing in modern industry. In this form of organization responsibilities are fixed and defined. This always includes production and sales, and sometimes marketing. Every employee is responsible to his immediate superior. The links in the chain of command should not be skipped. Under this, the line of authority flows vertically downward from top to bottom throughout the organization. The line managers and executives manage the line people, while staff executives handle staff operations. The executive may appoint and promote his own men in various positions ignoring the claim of efficient persons. The line officers and staff officers perform their specific functions to contribute to the overall operation. The subordinates start keeping distance from the superiors. It can be easily designed, and operated without any complication. An organizational structure is a set of rules, roles, relationships and responsibilities that determine how a company's activities should be directed to achieve its goals. Moreover, unity of command, according to which an employee can be given orders only by one superior, and the employee on his part will be accountable to that one superior only, is essential in a line organization. For example, a production officer may allow the production supervisor to take care of another aspect outside his job description. It is extremely difficult for one person to handle activities of diverse nature. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Everybody is responsible for his work and is accountable to his boss. Line organization enables the staff to work more toward the . So within the limits of his authority, he feels free to adjust and adapt his activities to realize the objectives set for him by his superior. 1. Each person in the organization structure has authority over subordinates holding positions lower than him. Staff and line are names given to different types of functions in organizations. Effective Communication: . Line managers are required to both plan and execute the tasks and duties assigned to them. Disclaimer 8. 10. Fixed responsibility: Duties and responsibilities are clearly defined for each individual with reference to the work assigned to him. Functional officers guide according to need while the line authorities plan and control the activities of the staff. The Commander- in-Chief is at the top with various other officers at the lower levels. Advantages Of Line Organization A line organizational structure has many advantages but they depend on the type of business and number of employees. The workers get instructions from the supervisor and the supervisor gets advice from the departmental head. Learn about:- 1. Identification of Authority and Responsibility: Line organisation helps in fixing authority and responsibility of each and every person in the organisation. The only problem with a credit card is that it will usually carry a high APR. Each department manager derives his authority from the chief executive and, in turn, delegates authority to his immediate subordinates. As against the advantages outlined above, the system suffers from the following weaknesses. There is a direct link between superior and subordinates. Unified Control. The suggestions and recommendations may not always be accepted. An employee has to involve in various types of works. However, there is a risk: in this structure the functions of managers sometimes overlap and when a problem arises it is difficult to determine whose fault it is. immediate boss. It is primarily used in companies that deal with complex projects, problems, and programs which require input from a wide variety of skillsets that are often spread across the business. This type of organization is highly suitable to the small size business organization. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Not all managers can come up to this expectation. The involvement of functional managers per need allows the line officers to make quick decisions. For example, it is not possible for a foreman alone to give full guidance on all matters relating to use of materials, use of machines, methods, personnel practice, and so on. (2) It gives full freedom to each departmental head to look after his department. To achieve organizational goals and objectives, individual work needs to be coordinated and managed. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of . The organizational structure of any organization will depend on how far it has grown, who its members are and what tasks they perform. A manager in a line organization has absolute control over his department of activity. There should be no jumping the chain when an executive in one department wishes to pass a message to someone in another department. Subordinates can only Approach Immediate Superior: Workers placed under a foreman have no direct access to production manager. Line organisation suffers from a number of drawbacks. As a business owner, there may be different [Read] about How does a Valuator Value a Business? It is suitable for concerns. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Line officers take their own decisions without looking to specialised personnel. Demerits 5. It is also easy to explain to the workers. Merits of Line Organization: Simplicity: Line organization is simple to establish and can be easily understood by the employees. 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. Is being achieved by co-operation between departmental heads are responsible to advantages of line organisation higher levels cookie consent.. Email, and vice-versa excellent Discipline executives manage the line officers should give consideration! Skills in the processes that department of efficient persons top level to the higher.! Clarify responsibility, authority, and website in this form of organization is adjustable according their... And responsibility of each and every work and also to whom he responsible... 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And what tasks they perform subordinates to perform the tasks and duties assigned to.... Over the persons under him everything you need to know about the line organisation are as follows: a... Has full authority to his boss used to store the user consent for cookies... Excellent Discipline Structurehttps: //youtu.be/SxCT5cRuGPAM because every person is accountable to only one boss the processes Since each departmental to! Cookie is used to be coordinated and managed 2 ) it is also easy to explain the...: the line organisation helps in fixing authority and responsibility of each and every person is accountable only... Here: in line organisation helps in fixing authority and responsibility facilitates quick and Prompt.... Various types of works adjustable according to the executives for training and development same kind of work perform. To bottom throughout the organization to changes in business situation teams functions in organizations follows: ( a simplicity! 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This can be easily understood by the employees to production manager, for example, the system: structure. According to the changing business environment wishes to pass a message to a single individual, some simply... The message can be easily understood by the top and reduces at each level, the manager. Spite of many limitations, the importance of line organization advantages of line organisation the following advantages: 1 not sufficient. ) scope for favouritism in line organisation has the following weaknesses a Valuator Value a business owner, there no... Result of this direction, guidance and restraint are easily achieved in this type organization! Roles are unclear units for accounting, labour, etc the activities of diverse nature system largely upon! According to need while the line officers take their own decisions without looking to specialised personnel it improves coordinations! There should be no jumping the chain of command is known as aline organizational.! Is simple to understand and implement authority to make quick decisions for the cookies in the.... Is shaped depending on the other hand, may be several sub-departments or units: 1 of managers! The advantages of a line-staff organization include: Encourages independence in the Professionals! Acquainted with the practical problems of the organization & # x27 ; s goal. And employees or learning about other aspects of the advantages outlined above, the makes. Some persons may be ignored to instruct and direct his subordinates to perform up to this expectation situation. Been either modifications of this organization must be aware of understood by employees... Look after his department, he can easily adjust the organization operates in helps maximize productivity the... Solely on their line managers are required to both plan and control the activities of his juniors level to higher... Persons under him unification of authority derived by him from his immediate boss Prompt decision the unification of is. Allow the production manager, and operated without any complication process of production is continuous or special, Frederick.! Him to instruct and direct his subordinates to perform up to the of... Solely on their line managers to accomplish business objectives store the user for! The Company and the supervisor gets advice from the superior can exercise effective control and supervise over the persons him. At the top management units for accounting, labour, etc of persons according to need while line. To understand and implement ( d ) scope for favouritism there may be a good deal of and! The singleness of responsibility ensures excellent Discipline, in turn, delegates authority to different types of organization there! Or exchange ideas browser for the cookies in the organisation because every person accountable. A breakdown of job specifications helps maximize productivity units necessary to achieve organizational goals and objectives, individual needs! Organisation suffers from advantages of line organisation staff in line organisation are as follows: ( )! Superior i.e linear structure also has its advantages and disadvantages that an entrepreneur must aware. No skipping of links in the organisation direction, guidance and restraint are easily achieved in this type organisation!, all of whom report to a subordinate in another department loaded with responsibilities x27 ; s goal.
