But the authority with the staff managers is less concrete. form personal staff of line managers. 5. The line officers, on the other hand, complain of interference by staff persons in the day-to-day working. Prohibited Content 3. Conflict between Line and Staff: One more important disadvantage is the conflict between the line and staff officers. The advantages are mentioned below. 3. Disadvantages of a Line-and-Staff Organization Structure Getty Images/Digital Vision/Getty Images A line-and-staff structure is a somewhat antiquated view of a large corporate culture. Specialization: Line and staff organisation introduces specialization in a systematic manner. In this tutorial students can learn " Line and Staff Organisation - definition, advantages, disadvantages and application ". Line authority and staff authority conf… Report a Violation, Major Conflicts Between Line Managers and Staff Managers, Line and Staff Organisation: Meaning, Merits and Demerits, Functional Organisation: Meaning, Advantages and Disadvantages. This organisation provides scope for advancement of career to able and dedicated employees. Expert Advice: The staff officers provide expert advice and guidance to line officers and by this, the enterprise as a whole gets benefit. Advantage And Disadvantage Of Line Staff Structure. Line officers do not consult staff while implementing the advice. 4. Small and medium concerns cannot afford line and staff organisation because of its expensive nature. They are not accountable for the actual results of operations. They will feel unimportant and the quality of advice will also be adversely affected. They are attached to important functionaries as their deputies, etc. They are actual doers and generally do not possess specialized knowledge to solve complex problems. (ii) Line officers reject the advice without giving reasons. Line and staff style of organization is the mechanism involving division of work and labor and also specializatio n in such a way t hat there are line managers and staff m anagers. This may tempt them to give rash or theoretical advice. 2. They tend to give advice which has not been tested earlier. The staff officers feel ignored at the hands of line officers. 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. Following are the disadvantages of functional organization: i. These conflicts are not based on ideologies. Disclaimer 9. DISADVANTAGES:- 1.Dual command 2.Lacking of sound advice 3.Line and staff conflicts 4.Costly structure 5.Authority assumptions. ADVANTAGES OF LINE AND STAFF ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE 2. 1. Both line and staff should try to understand each other's responsibilities and difficulties and try to co-operate with each other for the achievement of enterprise objectives. Advantages of Line Organization. 2. Directness: Since the authority flows directly from the immediate superior, each employee knows to whom he is responsible.3. Overlapping of functions will create confusion and disorder among employees. The line and staff organisation is quite suitable for growth and expansion. The Personal Assistant or the Private Secretary etc. The unity of command is maintained in this type of organisation. They would save themselves the botheration of giving their own thoughts to the staff opinion. Without power they will not get prestige in the organisation. The functional managers have the advantage of expert advice when taking important decisions. 5. Staff experience can provide a great deal of credibility with colleagues when a manager switches from a staff role to a line role. The workers get command from line personnel and are accountable directly to them for their performance. 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. They refer everything to staff for advice. Here his level of efficiency is not the same that is why most of the time the organization activities suffer due to overloading. Discipline: Since workers have to work under different bosses, it is difficult to maintain discipline among them. Advantages of Line Positions 1. But the Staff Managers give an indirect contribution by providing advice and expertise on it. Privacy Policy 8. Therefore, employees are skilled in tasks pertaining to their departments alone. So important are both line and staff roles in a large organization that it’s difficult to be an effective leader without having experienced both. 6. Thus, this syste… 5. There are only line… A line-and-staff organizational structure features multiple layers of managers, assistant managers and supervisors, all of whom report to a single managing director. As principle of unity of command is not followed, there are conflicts among staff experts and line executives leading to physical and financial loss. Hence, there is greater flexibility in the organisation. Hello viewers, Line and staff is often a complex topic so in this video we have tried to explain that. The present staff will enable the expansion and growth of unit. Simplicity: This system is very simple and can operate very easily. Hence, it is quite expensive and small and medium-sized concerns cannot afford it. The staff officers do not wield any power in the organisation. Line and staff organization has greater flexibility, in the sense that new specialized activities can be added … (c) Staff officers do not remain contended by giving advice only. They may be appointed as Deputy Managers, Assistant Managers, Special Assistants, etc. Advantages and Disadvantages of Functional Organizational Structure The line officers are left with routine administrative work. Thus, this system may encourage carelessness on the part of the staff officer. The best part of staff training is that the organization and productivity increases. 3. 3. Burden For Management. They fix routine meetings, open the post, maintain diaries and accompany the boss on official visits. (iii) Line officers are slow to accept new ideas and they resist change. Following are some demerits and disadvantages of line organization or vertical organization 1. The biggest disadvantage of line organization is that since it is one man show the lack of specialization is clearly visible in such type of organization as each job requires different skill to complete the job effectively and efficiently and one man cannot learn all the skills alone so there will be always that lack of knowledge or specialization in case of line organization. Sound Decisions: In this type, the decisions are made by experts and hence, there is a possibility of making sound managerial decisions. They feel themselves superior to line officers. There is a lack of responsibility for staff officials. There will be a lack of co-ordination between line and staff. The line officers are spared of routine works and are able to devote much time for planning and execution. Over loading.The executive is overloaded at each level of organization. Thus, the organization takes advantage of functional organization while maintaining the unity of command. Organizational structure: types of organizational structures (line organizations, line-and-Stuff organizations, committee and matrix organization). 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. Authority is related to decision–making power, which is a key aspect in any type of organization. Further, they would pass them as they receive in the form of their orders. Conflict amongst Foremen: Under this type, foreman of equal rank will be many in number and this may lead to conflict among them. Lack of Fixed Res… Staff personnel have the following complaints: (a) Line officers do not make proper use of expert knowledge of the staff. The conflict between line and staff officials adversely affects the work in the organisation. 7 main Disadvantages of Line and Staff Organisation (1) Line executives may start referring most of the problems to the staff officers. The responsibility for operations lies with line officers while staff officers only advise. The paper examined staff welfare and organization s productivity, using Patani Local Government Council in Delta State, Nigeria as a reference. (b) Staff officers are more theoretical than practical. The line organization has the following advantages:1. Above mentioned are a few advantages and disadvantages of staff training, benefits, and the importance of staff training. The separation of functions of ‘planning’ and ‘doing’ also helps in creating more and more job opportunities. The following diagram shows line and staff organisation: Advantages of Line and Staff Organisation: This organisation has the following advantages: 1. Staff training is mandatory and can be forced to be conducted in all organizations for the various benefits it brings in. Advice Ignored: As the staff officers lack authority to put their recommendations into practice, their advice may be ignored by the line executives. There are several things he must manage independently. Confusion: If the pattern of authority relationship between line and staff executives is not clearly indicated, there may be considerable confusion throughout the organisation. Expensive: This type requires the appointment of a large number of experts involving heavy expenditure. Persons with specialized knowledge are … The Staff Viewpoint. They have the same background as that of line officers. 4. They should state reasons in case they cannot accept the advice. Read this article to learn about the types, functions, advantages and conflicts of line and staff organisation. Under this, the line of authority flows vertically downward from top to bottom throughout the organization. The line officers can take balanced and quick decisions. (d) Staff officers do not have authority to implement their ideas. 0 comments: Post a Comment. They resist new things and insist on following the traditions. The quantum of authority is highest at the top and reduces at each successive level down the hierarchy. They do not consult staff personnel at the planning level where they can make practical suggestions. This type of structure is called a functional organizational structure or line and functional organization. There are more openings for those who have capabilities of going up. This type of tendency creates conflict and friction between line and staff officials. (ii) Staff authorities are not acquainted with the practical problems of the enterprise as they are only academics. This staff consists of persons attached to the key executives. They may try to dominate the implementation part of their advice. This type of organisation is very expensive because a large number of specialists are appointed. Advice Ignored: As the staff officers lack authority to put their recommendations into practice, their advice may be ignored by the line executives. The specialists help line officers in deciding things regarding their lines of specialization. 3. 1. Line managers have the following complaints against staff: (a) Staff officers claim credit for programmes which are successful but do not want to share responsibility for their failure. All the complaints of both line and staff personnel are based on lack of understanding. 1. Matrix organization for a small and large business: An outline, advantages, disadvantages, conclusion. Title: advantages and disadvantages of line follower and obstacle detection robot Page Link: advantages and disadvantages of line … With the appointment of staff officers the burden of the officers is greatly reduced. (iv) Staff authorities feel that they do not have authority to get their ideas implemented. Speed of Action: As control is divided among the various specialists, the speed of action is very much hampered. The advice of staff should be realistic and practicable. They should be given authority like line officers in supervising the implementation of their suggestions. They trespass their field of activity and enter the area meant for line people. (iv) Advice given by the staff is not always sound. Line managers are formal and legitimate authorities, as per the organizational hierarchy of a company. Staff authorities have the following complaints against line officers: (i) Line officers do not make proper use of advice given by staff. 4. This is because each department manager is concerned only with the activities of his own department. ... advantages, disadvantages and application ". Line authority flows from top to bottom and the line executive is directly concerned with the accomplishment of primary objectives. The following diagram shows line and staff organisation: This organisation has the following advantages: Line and staff organisation introduces specialization in a systematic manner. The planning part is generally undertaken by staff personnel and line officers are able to devote much time for execution. The line organization is the most simple type of organization and hence the simplicity is maintained. 2. Lack of Co-ordination: There are several functional experts in the organisation and this may create the problem of coordination. Several advantages and disadvantages are present within a line-and-staff organization. The limits of authority of both line and staff should be prescribed clearly. Copyright 10. Content Filtrations 6. Advantages of Line and Staff Organisation: Disadvantages of Line and Staff Organisation. It is the simplest form of organisation structure and is also known as scalar or military organisation. Image Guidelines 5. 6. The staff authority is assigned the following functions: It has to discharge the functions such as: It has to help in co-ordination of work among different departments. (b) Staff people feel that their advice is not properly implemented by the line personnel. Some assistants can be appointed to cope with the work if needed. 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. 7 main Disadvantages of Line and Staff Organisation(1) Line executives may start referring most of the problems to the staff officers. Line and staff structure is based on the assumption that both will help and support each other. Every person in the organization is in the direct chain of command. 1) Simplicity. Opportunities for Advancement. concept "Matrix-Organisation" exists. Even the workers at the lower level can understand the structure of this organization.2. This type of organization was followed in the military so this is also called as the military organization. Disadvantages Of Line And Staff Organization ... Also Read: Advantages Of Line And Staff Organization. A line-and-staff system includes line departments, such as manufacturing and marketing, which are responsible from driving revenue for the company. They may also be casual in their approach because the whole blame for non-performance lies with line. TOS 7. It is based upon planned specialization. Let us learn in detail about the Line and Staff Organization of a firm. The staff officers may also not be clear about their exact role. The line and staff organisation suffers from the following drawbacks: There is a possibility of conflict between line and staff personnel. They emphasize their field of specialization without giving much thought to the overall interest of the company. Line employees (Managers) directly contribute towards the organizational goals. 1. Persons with specialized knowledge are appointed to help line officers. The viewpoints of both line and staff of this conflict are given below: A. Lack of Specialization.Different types of jobs are looked after, supervised and control by executive. A line organisation has only direct, vertical relationships between different levels in the firm. It helps the employees understand the hierarchy and the communication channels of the firm. This hampers smooth operation. Staff people are consulted only as a last resort. 7. 1. As we plan our careers, which do we seek? Disadvantages of a Line Organization A line organization can suffer from a lack of specialization. 4. 2. B. Plagiarism Prevention 4. Line and Staff Organization: Line and staff organization is a combination of functional and line structure. (iii) As staff officers are specialists only in a specific area, they cannot see the whole picture objectively. These persons help their bosses in every possible way. The line officers become habituated for advice on staff. Content Guidelines 2. The persons being experts in their fields, they demand higher emoluments. Staff authority should be restricted to a purely advisory role. Their specialized knowledge is an asset to the organisation. Advice is only theoretical and unrealistic. It suggests how the relations are designed between a superior and a subordinate in an organization. An advantage of a line-and-staff organization is the availability of technical specialists. The routine work of line officers is mostly handled by the personal staff. 2. This creates better understanding and discipline among employees. Personal staff is attached to individual line officers. The blame for unsuccessful tasks is thrust on line managers even though they act on the advice of the staff. Staff experts in specific areas are incorporated into the formal chain of command. (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. Proper demarcation of their fields and mutual trust can help in improving the efficiency of both line and staff personnel. When staff officers try to guide line persons in implementing the programmes then they are accused of interference. The burden of line staff is eased by the appointment of specialists. They will not give much thought to any activity since advice will be available from staff. Over-dependence on staff will make line officers less creative. Every company has an organizational structure. The staff can also be used to investigate and advise on inter-departmental relationships. This type of situation helps in solving many issues which would have created difficulties if timely decisions would not have been taken. 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