(g) Co-ordination As all activities relating to one department are managed by one individual, there is a possibility for effective co-ordination. Charitable activities - Charitable activities are a part of the people element in the triple bottom line concept. Since all work is done according to the wishes of one person alone, the efficiency of the whole department will come to depend upon the qualities of management displayed by the head of that department. This means that everything in the organization is vertically connected. All the departmental managers enjoy equal status and work independently. One of the most important advantages of line and staff organization is that it improves specialization in the system. Type # 1. The open office arrangement has the fantastic benefit of enhancing business culture. Similarly, each person derives authority from the superior above him. The line office cannot devote sufficient time to each and every work and are over loaded with responsibilities. Line managers can work more efficiently with staff managers handling specialized functions. Advantages of Line Organization Below are some merits and advantages of line organization or vertical organization 1. Specialized employees help the line staff in processes by offering expert advice. Responsibility, on the other hand, flows upwards. Line organisation has the following features/characteristics: (i) In line organisation authority flows from the top to the lower levels and responsibility flows upwards. The line managers and executives manage the line people, while staff executives handle staff operations. Simplicity: Line organisation is simple to establish and can be easily understood by the employees. Hence, discipline can be maintained there. Fixed Authority And Responsibility The line management must give appropriate reasons in case of rejection. (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. Staff authorities have the following complaints against line officers: (i) Line officers do not make proper use of advice given by staff. Further promotion of the workers would depend upon the reports made about them by the foreman concerned. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". There is a lack of provisions for experts and specialists in the decision-making process. Find out more about aline organizational structurewith examples. For this reason, it is given the name line organization. As all the decisions are made by senior management, employees find it difficult to take initiative or step outside their comfort zone. BusinessManagementIdeas.Com. is the oldest form of organization. Unlike affiliative leadership structures, such organizational structures do not heed the officers advice. (ii) Every person is in in charge of persons working under him. According to McFarland, Line structure consists of the direct vertical relationship which connects the positions and tasks of each level with those above and below it.. Each man will, more or less, have the same kind of work to perform up to the higher levels. Due to the fact that decision-making authority is. Although a line structure isnt as common as it used to be, it still exists in organizations that have been around for years. Line and staff officers and managers must understand each others work scope and not try to interfere. Organizational structure refers to how individual and team work within an organization are coordinated. (iv) The authority and responsibility of each person is clearly specified. Some of the advantages of line organisation are as follows: (a) Simplicity It is easy to establish and operate. Prof. Florence enunciates three principles which are necessary to realise the advantages of this system, and the non-observance of which would involve inefficiency. It is the simplest form of organization and very simple to understand and implement. 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. Staff authority refers to advising the people with line authority for better results. Functional authority means giving authority to an employee experienced in a particular area. Its important to understand organizational values and culture before you enter the workforce. Maintain Discipline 4. Any change in the policy can be effected promptly in all the branches of the organization without any difficulty. They are not provided with an opportunity to put forward their view point or problems or suggestions to persons at the top level. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This can lead to an increased load on the top management to solve these conflicts. Co-ordination: . Coordination: Since each department is controlled by one man, complete coordination throughout the department is assured. (b) It facilitates unity of control and the presence of scalar principle. Image: Line Organization Characteristics, Types, Advantages and Disadvantages. You can change your cookie settings at any time. The staff officer may plan and implement them with their own judgment without suggestions from others. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Features of Line Organisation 2. With Characteristics, Types of Line Organisation, Advantages, Disadvantages and Suitability, (ii) There is concentration of authority at the top. On the contrary, modern approaches strive to enhance employee autonomy and avoid micromanagement. In this form of organization responsibilities are fixed and defined. 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. Lack of Specialization 3. Autocratic Leadership 4. Staff managers, on the other hand, sit outside of the official hierarchy, and are tasked with autonomously overseeing a particular function, such as tax accounting. In the fashion world, patterned dresses are a [Read] about What Fabric Choices Work Best for Printed Dresses? Line personnel command the workers and give feedback. (iv) Fixed responsibility Everybody in this type of organisation knows to whom he is responsible, and who are responsible to him. It means a subordinate is responsible to only one superior. So, this type of organisation 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. 7. In a line organization, authority follows the chain of command. Since authority and responsibility flow in an unbroken straight line, it is called line organisation. Thus, in the production department, there may be a number of foremen each having a number of workers under him. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. (iii) Strong discipline It ensures excellent discipline. (vii) There is a hierarchical arrangement of authority. 3. Disclaimer 8. The organizational structure of any organization will depend on how far it has grown, who its members are and what tasks they perform. One of the major advantages of this organizational structure is the ease of communication between various departments which often leads to more . The organizational structure is shaped by factors such as: No matter what organizational structure we choose, certain elements will always be present in it: management (except for self-managing teams, about which read here), i.e. Superior at each level makes decisions within the scope of his authority. The line and staff officers perform their functions smoothly through better coordination and cooperation. Advantages of a Line Organization Simple to work Economical and effective. There are both advantages and disadvantages of line organization. Some of them are inherent while some others are due to peculiar failings of human beings. The departmental manager is responsible or answerable to his immediate superior i.e. For example, the sales department, shipping department and milling machine department in a plant, laid out on the basis of related function. Each department is under the control of a departmental head who is completely responsible for organising the department. Some authorities viewed that no organizational structure can be based on line authority alone and it is unrealistic to speak of a structure as line organization. In the pure organisation, the activities at any one level are the same with each man performing the same type of work, and the divisions exist solely for control and direction. There is scope for favouritism. There are no staff personnel to advice line officers. It is also worth mentioning here that the co-ordination on the basis of cooperation is rather enforced by the supervisor who will be in charge of two or three units. Line organization enables the staff to work more toward the execution of tasks. Your email address will not be published. 1. Quick Decision: Quick decisions are taken by the employees because of unification of authority and responsibility. Expensive: This type requires the appointment of a large number of experts involving heavy expenditure. Where the number of subordinates and operatives is less. In a departmental line organization, there is a chief executive at the top. There is thus a hierarchical arrangement of authority. An executive cannot shift his decision-making to others, nor can the blame be shifted. The subordinates start keeping distance from the superiors. In recent times, however, the military organisations have undergone changes similar to those occurring in the industrial and other organisations. Communication- Communication is fast and easy as there is only vertical flow of communication. What is Business Level Strategy? All organizations follow specific organizational structures to run the company smoothly. Line organization structure chart tends to simplify and clarify responsibility, authority, and accountability relationships. (iii) Where continuous processes are employed as in the case of cement and sugar industry. The subordinates do not convey their reactions or the reactions of workers to the superiors. 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. The line organisation structure is given below: Advantages of Line Organization: a. Learn how your comment data is processed. (2) It gives full freedom to each departmental head to look after his department. (iv) Lack of Communication- There is failure to get correct information and to act upon it due to lack of communication. Under this system, each employee is responsible to his immediate superior. 2. Hence, less expenses is incurred for adopting line organization. Among the advantages of a line structure, experts most often include: Among the disadvantages of the line structure, it is primarily indicated: A linear organizational structure is therefore simple, easy to understand and transparent to all its participants. The line authority not only becomes the avenue of command to operating personnel, but also provides the channel of communication, coordination and accountability in enterprise. Advantages and Disadvantages of Line Organization Advantages are: 1. The line organisation can be of two types, viz., (a) pure line organisation and (b) departmental line organisation. This organisation is a vertical structure where one person delegates authority to his subordinate and who in turn delegates to his subordinate and so on. 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. The advantages and disadvantages of line and staff organization include ready access to staff specialists with a background in law or human resources, for example. Disadvantages of Line and Staff Organisation. Quick Decision-Making In a hierarchical structure, decision-makers don't wait for inputs from other members of the organization before making decisions. Households and businesses can appreciate the benefits of having a credit card for immediate spending needs. Relief to Line Executives: The Staff officers look after the detailed analysis of each important managerial activity which is a big relief to the line officers. Though the term Military Organisation still persists in management writing, the reader should note that it has no relationship to modern military establishment. Main article photo: photo by Vlada Karpovich, source: pexels.com. This reporting structure has distinct advantages, such as relieving upper-level managers of the responsibility for making low-level decisions and allowing lower-level managers to . The line organisation can be of two types, viz. Line or Military Organization: Structure, Features, Characteristics, Merits, Demerits, Suitability and Branches, With Features, Conditions for Success, Merits, Demerits and Suitability, Hierarchy of Authority Levels, Branches of Line Organisation, Merits, Demerits and Suitability of Line Organisation, Flow of Authority from Top to Bottom; Accountability of Each Subordinate, Department Managers Function Independently of One Another, Subordinates can only Approach Immediate Superior, (2) Clear Division of Authority and Responsibility, Line managers are required to both plan and execute the tasks and duties assigned to them. Red Tapism and Bureaucracy: Concentration of authority in the hands of a single man shall result in red tapism at all levels. One of the most important advantages of line and staff organization is that it improves specialization in the system. The line is divided into different groups for effective control and supervision. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. In this type of organisation, the whole unit is divided into different departments that are convenient for control purposes. This is the oldest form of organization. This means relying a little too much on their individual capability, knowledge and experience. The officers work according to their whims and preferences. Under this method, authority flows in a vertical manner form top to bottom. Exhibit 10.4 illustrates a staff or functional authority organisational structure. 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. Required fields are marked *. Thus, it permits flexibility in operation. Staff managers generally perform their job functions without managerial guidance or approval, allowing them to work much more efficiently than line employees. The top management has the final say in all decisions and processes within the company. 3. Academic library - free online college e textbooks - info{at}ebrary.net - 2014 - 2023. A foreman heads each department. Similarly, they can not devote time to supervise their subordinates. The workers get instructions from the supervisor and the supervisor gets advice from the departmental head. (5) Co-ordination between different units is being achieved by co-operation between departmental heads or executives responsible to conduct different units. vi. : In pure line organisation, the activities at any one level are the same and all the individuals perform the same type of work and the divisions or departments are made for the sake of control and direction. Members of the . (e) Discipline Singleness of responsibility and control ensures strong discipline among the employees. 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? What happens when a department manager wants to pass some message to a subordinate in another department? (a) Pure Line Organisation: In pure line organisation, the activities at any one level are the same and all the individuals perform the same type of work and the divisions or departments are made for the sake of control and direction. At departmental level manager is in charge and he can direct the activities of his juniors. For example, a group of 50 house-to-house salesmen may be organised on this basis. (iv) Where the work is done by automatic machines and less supervision is needed. This is known by different names, i.e. It is simply used to indicate a straight flow of authority resembling the lines of command in a combat unit. Advantages and Disadvantages of Line Organization. Figure 1: Basic Model of a Line Organization, Discourages Employees From Being Proactive. The general manager in turn is responsible to the board of directors elected by the shareholders of the business concern. 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. Since the organization includes line and staff functions, decisions can be made easily. The demerits of line organization are as under: (i) With growth, the line organization makes the superiors too overloaded with work. They are expected to take numerous decisions and supervise the work of subordinates under them. Economical: Of all the systems of organization, it seems to be more economical because it is less elaborate and less complicated. And so it goes on. He has to take various decisions by himself. Their boss is the foreman to whom they communicate their problems and suggestions and from whom they receive their orders. Everybody knows his work and also to whom he is responsible. Since one man controls the whole show, the subordinates have to dance according to his tune. It also governs the . One can not operate without the o. How Does a Human Resource Manager Have Line, Staff & Implied Authority? Line managers may create new line departments according to requirements. For the three indicators of inclusionequality, openness, and belongingwe found particularly high levels of negative sentiment about equality and fairness of opportunity. You have to be mindful of the levels of management when you want to communicate or exchange ideas. 1. Although an executive can delegate authority, he has ultimate responsibility for results. For this purpose, a department head is appointed for each department. Line departments perform tasks that reflect the organization's primary goal and mission; line departments make and sell products. 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. Everybody is responsible for his work and is accountable to his boss. The concept of line organization holds that in any organization derived from a scalar process, there must be a single head who commands it. 6. Direct Communication: As this system enables direct contact between the superior and his subordinates, direct communication is made possible. Your email address will not be published. There is a lack of co-ordination among various departments. 6. 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.. Departmental head is given full freedom to manage his department. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. This is known by different names, i.e. Matthew was a floor manager at a local restaurant in Wales. Line Organisation is the oldest form of organization. Reader should note that it has grown, who its members are what... 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Supervisor gets advice from the departmental managers enjoy equal status and work independently realise... Organization 1 authority means giving authority to an employee experienced in a departmental who! Level makes decisions within the company plan and implement them with their own judgment without suggestions from others how it... Negative sentiment about equality and fairness of opportunity the general manager in turn is responsible for the. The chain of command capability, knowledge and experience from the superior and his subordinates, direct:... Establish and can be effected promptly in all decisions and supervise the work of subordinates and is! Structure is the foreman to whom they communicate their problems and suggestions and from they! Provide social media features and to act upon it due to peculiar failings of human beings work according to whims! Negative sentiment about equality and fairness of opportunity which are necessary to realise the advantages of line simple! 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