ChapterLine and Staff Relationships

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Line OrganisationThe line, or military organisation, is the simplest and the oldest form of organisation. Line structures are more common in small-scale units. Authority flows in a direct line from superiors to subordinates. Authority flows downward and responsibility flows upward, throughout the organisation. The essential characteristics of line organisation is the flow of authority that is straight and vertical.

Advantages of Line Organisation Simplicity Fixed responsibility Quick decisions Develops managers Flexibility Economical

Disadvantages Lack of specialisation Scarce talent Arbitrary actions Difficult to coordinate

Functional OrganisationFunctional organisation is an organisation where line authority, staff authority and functional authority exist together.

Advantages of Functional Organisation Specialisation Clarity Economies of scale within functions In-depth skill development Satisfying work Eases the burden of top managers Suitability

Disadvantages Leads to conflicts

Affects morale

Weakens the influence of the line supervisors

Lack of coordination

Delayed decisions

Divided responsibility

Managerial Vacuum

Line and Staff OrganisationThe line and staff organisation combines the good features of both the line organisation and functional organisation. The staff specialists provide advice and support to the line managers in getting the work done. The line organisation is paramount and the staff organisation is created to service it.

Advantages of line and staff Organisation Planned Specialisation

Scientific actions

Definiteness

Training ground for developing people

Line and Staff AuthorityLine authority is the ultimate authority to command, act, decide, approve or disapprove all the activities of the organisation. Line connotes the work, functions of organisation components that are accountable for fulfilling the economic objectives of the organisation. Line authority is characterised by two things: the right to decide and the right to direct.

What is Staff?Staff authority is advisory, which means that the staff is a supporting unit that recommends action or alternative actions to the line manager. However, staff authority is not confined to mere advisory roles or recommending activities only. A staff manager helps, serves, investigates, plans, solves special problems, supports line efforts, provides ideas and special expertise.

Peculiarities of Line and Staff Relationship One Centre of Authority

Peculiar Subordinate Relationship

Staff Obedient to an Impersonal Body of Rules

False Assumptions

Nature of Staff Service

Nature of Staff Service

Principal Distinctions between Line and Staff AuthorityLine Manager Staff ManagerGeneralist A myopic provincial fellow

Directs others Assists

Delegates Serves

Trains subordinates Investigates

Exerts control Plans

Uses sanctions Solves special problems

Has veto powers Supports line effort

Makes operating decisions

Provides ideas

Bears final responsibility Has special expertise

Line and Staff ConflictThe conflict between line and staff departments is one of the major sources of friction in many organisations. Some theorists have even suggested the banishment of the concept from the management vocabulary.

Is the Line-staff Designation Obsolete?

Tension Points (McFarland)

Verbal Battle (Allen)

The line view point Dilution and usurpation of authority

Ivory tower theoreticians

Steals credit

The Staff Viewpoint

Line does not make proper use of staff

Line resists new ideas

Line does not give staff enough authority

Improving Line and Staff RelationshipsThe following guidelines may help in improving the line and staff relationships:

Clarity in relationships

Acceptance of staff advice

An informed staff

Completed staff work