#226: Control your span

One of the reasons the typical organization hierarchy looks like a pyramid is because of a concept called the span of control.

The span of control is the number of subordinates who report directly to you. The greater the number who report to you, the wider your span of control.

According to traditional dogma, the higher up the organization you are, the fewer the number of people who should directly report to you. In other words, a senior executive should have a narrow span of control, whereas a junior supervisor should have a wide span of control.

This makes no sense. Here’s why. It implies that low level supervisors are far better managers, capable of supervising more people than senior executives can manage. Or it implies that the higher up you go, the less competent people become and the less mature they are, thus requiring more direct supervision.

Now tell me, which one applies in your organization?



I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

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