(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
TABLE: - FACTORS INFLUCING THE SPAN OF CONTROL
