Thursday, December 2, 2010

SPAN OF CONTROL


(1) Span of control refers to the number of immediate

subordinate who report a

manager.

(2) Different level of organization level is also called span of control.

FACTORS DETERMINING AN EFFECTIVE SPAN

There are several factors which influence the span of management.

1- TRAINING OF SUBORDINATES

The better training of subordinates increases the necessary superior subordinate’s

relationship. Well trained subordinates require less time of their managers also they

have less contact with their managers. Training programs increase in new and more

complex industries.

2-CLARITY OF DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

Although training enables managers to reduce the freq

uency of time consuming

contact but delegation of authority should be clear. If a manager clearly delegates

authority to task with a minimum of the managers tim

e and attention. But if a

manager delegate’s authority unclearly than subordinate give his maximum.

3-CLARITY OF PLANS

If plans are well defined if they are workable, if the delegation of authority toward

plan is clear, if the subordinate understands what expected than little of a supervisor

time will be required on the other hand if plan can

not be drawn accurately and

subordinates do much of their own planning, they may require considerable guidance.

4- USE OF OBJECTIVE STANDARD

A manager must find out, either by personal observation or through the use of

objective standards, whether subordinates are following plans. Obviously, good

objective standards enable managers to avoid man

y time consuming contact.

5- RATE OF CHANGE

Certain enter rises change much more rapidly than others. The rate of change is very

important in formulating and maintaining policies. It may explain the organization

structure of company’s railroad, banking and public utility companies.

6- COMMUNICATION TECNIQUES

Communication techniques also influence the span of management. If every plan,

instruction, order or direction has to be communica

ted by personal contact than

managers time will be heavily burdened. An ability to communicate plans and

instructions clearly and concisely also tends to increase a managers span.

7- AMOUNT OF PERSONAL CONTACT NEEDED

Many instances, face to face meetings are necessary. Many situations cannot be

completely policy statements planning documents

or other communications that do

not involves personal contact. An executive may and valuable information’s by

meeting to subordinates and by discuss problems with them. Some problems can be

handled only in face to face meeting so the best way of communicating problems,

instructor, and subordinates is to spend time in personal contact.

8- VARIATION BY ORGANIZATION LEVEL

Several research projects have found that the size o

f the most effective span differs by

organizational level. For example, it was studied that when a greater number of

specialties were supervised, effective spans were narrower at lower and middle levels

of organization but were increased at upper levels.

9- COMPETENCY OF MANAGERS

A manager who is competent and well trained can effectively supervise more people

than who is not.

10- MATURITY AND MOTIVATION OF SUBORDINATES

The more mature subordinates may delegate more authority, thus widening the span.

TABLE: - FACTORS INFLUCING THE SPAN OF CONTROL

 

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