Among the advantages of a line structure, experts most often include: It is shaped depending on the objectives of the company and the units necessary to achieve them. 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. 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. Teamined.com is a meeting room for employer and employee that will help you build positive employer branding or get your dream job. Conditions for Success of Line Organisation 3. For example, at the lowest levels, all workers may perform a similar activity, but for control and supervision they may be divided into different groups, each placed under a foreman. 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. Hence, nobody is escaped from the responsibility. Coordination: Since each department is controlled by one man, complete coordination throughout the department is assured. 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. Departmental head is given full freedom to manage his department. Branches. Similarly, each person derives authority from the superior above him. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Thus if the Finance Manager has to convey something to a superintendent in the production department, he will have to send the word upwards to the General Manager and the General Manager will then pass it down to the Production Manager and the Production Manager will further pass it down to the Superintendent concerned. 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. (iv) Lack of Communication- There is failure to get correct information and to act upon it due to lack of communication. 2. The top-level manager can control the entire organization through the hierarchy of authority. The line managers have the following to say about the staff people: (i) Staff authority undermines line authority and interferes in the work of line managers. You may choose the one that suits your companys needs the best. This may lead to wrong adjustments or wrong decision-making on the part of the executives. In this model chart, the enterprise has three departments or shops namely, Foundry shop, Machine shop and Assembling shop. Similarly, a manager has to look after various departments and functions at a time. It gives complete control to the top hierarchy, exhibiting authoritative leadership. In a simple organizational structure, various departments are autonomous, and there is little communication with each other. Advantages of Line Organisation: ADVERTISEMENTS: Line organisation offers the following advantages: (a) It is simple to operate and easy to understand. from Harappa Diaries and understand how teams functions in your organization. (i) Less Expensive It is less expensive as no expenditure on staff personnel is involved. (d) Limited Communication In this type, there is no communication from subordinates upwards and the workers should follow the orders of superiors, without expressing any opinion about the orders communicated to them. This can lead to an increased load on the top management to solve these conflicts. Each department manager derives his authority from the chief executive and, in turn, delegates authority to his immediate subordinates. Disadvantages of Line and Staff Organisation. Since they are to take decisions with regard to every aspect of business, the quality of decisions may suffer. (v) There is limit on subordinates under one manager. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Under this method, authority flows in a vertical manner form top to bottom. Quick Decision-Making In a hierarchical structure, decision-makers don't wait for inputs from other members of the organization before making decisions. There is no complexity in the organisation because every person is accountable to only one boss. 2. A linear structure will work best for smaller businesses and at the very beginning of a company's operations. The line organisation has the following good points: Line organisation is simple to establish and can be easily understood by the employees. iii. This can be effective when organizations are short on time. A line organization is easy to establish. The direct relationship is prevailing between the sub-ordinate and immediate superior. Thus, in the production department, there may be a number of foremen each having a number of workers under him. Unity of command supports settling the duty in the line organization. Line and staff organization is a little more complicated than the line system. Everyone knows as to whom he can issue orders and to whom he is accountable. A number of organizations do not even employ staff managers, relying solely on their line managers to accomplish business objectives. In the words of J.M. Unified Control- Since the orders are given by one superior, there is no confusion among the subordinates. According to referenceforbusiness.com, staff managers often play a support role to line managers. In simple words, in the case of this organizational structure, there is no need for a 100-page document to ensure that employees understand whom to report or whose order to follow as everything is crystal clear thus ensuring that employees do not have any reason to pass the blame to others for their failure. 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.. It is also easy to explain to the workers. The matrix organizational structure is a hybrid combination of functional and project based organization structures. 1. Line organization enables the staff to work more toward the . Every employee is responsible to his immediate superior. Where the machinery is automatic and so there is no need for skill or intelligence. Encourages Carelessness: As the staff officer is not concerned with the execution of the plan, he may not take proper precautions and care before he advises the line officer. Flexibility: This system is flexible in the sense that it is subject to quick adjustments to suit the changing conditions. They feel that their suggestions may not carry weight with their superiors so they avoid taking any type of initiative. It means the staff authority may work to facilitate the process in line control. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Quick Decision: Quick decisions are taken by the employees because of unification of authority and responsibility. For the three indicators of inclusionequality, openness, and belongingwe found particularly high levels of negative sentiment about equality and fairness of opportunity. 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. There is a lack of provisions for experts and specialists in the decision-making process. Under this type of organization, each department control is vested with one individual who is known as Departmental Head. Simplicity: Line organisation is simple to establish and can be easily understood by the employees. Even though marked by lack of specialization, overburdening of competent managers, absence of communication between managers and subordinates, and subjective element in decision-making, line system of organization will suit businesses which are small in size, or where the work involved is of a routine nature, or machine-based. Subordinates have no freedom to do their job. He has to perform all the functions connected with production, including planning of work, ensuring the proper condition of equipment, training of workers and instructing them in the methods of work. Line organisation is easy to operate and less expensive. His task is challenging and he is expected to discharge his responsibility in an efficient way. Having a three-way authority system in the company facilitates expansion and growth. Every employee is responsible for completing the given work. Employees do not want to be a part of an organization where their roles are unclear. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Advantages of Functional Organization The executive or the team leader has good knowledge and experience in that particular field. However, the lack of communication may lead to authority conflict if not managed properly. Only one person is in charge of a department or division. Line organisation is the basic framework for the whole organisation. Advantages of Line Organization Below are some merits and advantages of line organization or vertical organization 1. He has to take various decisions by himself. It is by far the oldest form of organization. put an organization on the path to competitive advantage. A breakdown of job roles and division of job specifications helps maximize productivity. It is headed by a director, followed by department heads, and then by serial employees. It is extremely difficult for one person to handle activities of diverse nature. Among the advantages of a line structure, experts most often include: clear division of authority, competencies and responsibilities; employees are accountable to one person - the manager; possibility of quick interaction between employees and management; maximum speed of execution of orders; For example, the person heading the IT department will have the education and skill necessary to shoulder this responsibility and successfully run his team. The higher management can help improve line and staff structure by well-defined job roles and considering suggestions of functional officers. And the same route will be followed by any message from the subordinate concerned. . Every employee is responsible to his immediate superior. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. All persons at the same level of authority should be independent of one another. In a vertical companywhich was most the most common business model in organizations for the much of the mid- to late-20th centurylines What is Line and Staff Organizational Structure? Each sub-department is look after by one supervisor and adequate number of workers are working under them. Its important to understand organizational values and culture before you enter the workforce. The operation of line organization is very simple. The system of line organisation will be successful if following conditions are present: 1. Vertical Organizations A "vertical" company is known for having a large staff of middle managers between the CEO and the front line. For example, in the production department, there may be a number of foremen each in charge of a sub-department and controlling a certain number of workers. The line officers and staff officers perform their specific functions to contribute to the overall operation. (ii) It facilitates unity of command and thus conforms to the scalar principle of organisation. Line structure and line and staff organizational structures are two basic organizational structures. (iii) Strong discipline It ensures excellent discipline. Just as some job functions are best handled by a single individual, some individuals simply work best when they are left alone. It may increase the employee turnover rate if the job roles are unclear. Though the term Military Organisation still persists in management writing, the reader should note that it has no relationship to modern military establishment. Where the process of production is continuous or special. And others may be good at execution but not so when it comes to planning. Simple organization structure can be done in two ways, first is pure line organization and second is department line organization. Members of the . Another benefit of line organization is that it is easier to make someone accountable and responsible for the task assigned to him or her so if any mistake happens one can easily pinpoint the person due to whom the mistake has happened and there is no scope for him or her putting blame on other persons of the company.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'letslearnfinance_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-letslearnfinance_com-medrectangle-4-0'); if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'letslearnfinance_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',134,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-letslearnfinance_com-banner-1-0');Since decisions are taken by the person at the top only the response time to any situation is quick and short besides there is a lot of flexibility due to the presence of a single authority which makes it easier to respond to any situations which may arise from time to time. 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