Line-and-staff authority

In an organisation, line authority flows from top to bottom, and specialists advise line managers on important matters. These specialists are ready to help line managers when their services are needed by collecting information and providing assistance to help them do their jobs better. Staff officers don't have command authority because they advise line officers. 'Line' maintains discipline and stability;' staff' provides expert information. The line produces while the staff researches, plans, schedules, sets standards, and records performance. The line delegated the staff's authority to perform these functions, and the performance must be acceptable before action is taken. Figure shows line and staff authority.

Types of Staff

The staff position created as a measure of support for the line managers could look like this:

Personal Staff: In this case, the staff official serves as the line manager's personal assistant or adviser. Managing director's assistant, for example.

Specialized Staff: Such employees serve as a true source of knowledge in areas such as R&D, personnel, and accounting, among others.

General Staff: This group of employees consists of a variety of experts in various fields who are tasked with advising and assisting top management on matters requiring expertise. For instance, financial advisors, technical advisors, and so on.

Line and staff organisation characteristics

Line officers have authority and command over their subordinates and are responsible for the tasks entrusted to them in this system. Staff officers are experts who provide line officers with expert advice on how to perform their duties effectively. The staff officers prepare the plans and provide advice to the line officers, and the line officers carry out the plan with the help of workers under this system.

The organisation of the line and staff is based on the principle of specialisation.

Advantages

• It applies expert knowledge to management and operational issues. As a result, line managers benefit from the specialised knowledge of various levels of staff specialists.

• Staff officers provide expert advice and guidance to line officers, which benefits the entire organisation.

• The line managers are relieved of the burden of concentrating on specialised functions because the staff officers handle the detailed analysis of each important managerial activity.

• By providing expert advice, staff specialists assist line managers in making better decisions. As a result, under this system, sound managerial decisions will be made.

• It allows the principle of undivided responsibility and authority to be implemented while also allowing for staff specialisation. As a result, the organisation benefits from functional organisation while maintaining command unity.

• It is founded on the concept of planned specialisation.

• The line and staff organisation has more flexibility in that new specialised activities can be added to the line activities without disrupting the line procedure.

Disadvantages

• There may be considerable confusion throughout the organisation about the functions and positions of staff members in relation to line supervisors unless the duties and responsibilities of the staff members are clearly indicated by charts and manuals.

• Line and staff executives are frequently at odds. Line managers believe that staff specialists do not always provide the best advice, and staff officials complain that their recommendations are not followed up on properly.

• Line managers may resent staff members' activities, believing that their prestige and influence are jeopardised by their presence.

• Because they lack the authority to put their recommendations into action, the staff experts may be ineffective.

• In addition to the line officers, this type of organisation necessitates the hiring of a large number of staff officers or experts. As a result, the system is quite costly.

• Although expert advice and information are available, it is delivered to workers through officers, putting them at risk of misunderstanding and misinterpretation.

• Staff managers may not be performing their duties properly because they are not accountable for the results.

• Problems are dealt with more pragmatically by line managers. Staff members who are experts in their fields, on the other hand, are more theoretical in nature. This could make it difficult for the company to work together.

References:

• Line and Staff authority: Types, Features, Advantages and Disadvantages. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://www.brainkart.com/article/Line-and-Staff-authority--Types,-Features,-Advantages-and-Disadvantages_7509/

• Line-and-Staff Organizations - examples, advantages, manager, type, company, disadvantages, business. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2022, from https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Int-Loc/Line-and-Staff-Organizations.html