What does span of control refer to in an organizational context?

Span of control in an organizational context refers specifically to the number of employees that are directly supervised by a single manager. This concept is critical in organizational design as it affects communication, coordination, and overall efficiency within a team. A larger span of control means a manager oversees more employees, which can lead to reduced managerial costs and greater responsibility for the employees, but it may also result in less direct supervision and support. Conversely, a narrower span of control allows for closer oversight and enhanced managerial attention but can lead to higher operational costs and potentially slower decision-making processes.

Understanding span of control is essential for optimizing organizational structure. It influences how effectively managers can lead teams and ensure tasks are completed efficiently. In contrast, the level of hierarchy refers to the layers of management within an organization, the division of labor deals with how tasks are split among individuals or teams, and the method of task allocation pertains to how jobs are distributed throughout the organization. While these concepts are related to organizational structure, they do not specifically define what span of control represents.