- Enhanced communication. Improved communication is a major advantage of a narrow span of control. …
- Improved employee satisfaction. …
- Increased company awareness. …
- Closer teams. …
- More comprehensive training. …
- Inefficient use of resources. …
- Increased costs. …
- Disruptive.
Advantages of a narrow span of control
Businesses, management, and employees can all benefit from narrow spheres of control. The following are some benefits of using a narrow span of control in your operations:
Enhanced communication
A narrow span of control has the major benefit of enhancing communication. Managers are able to spend more time with their team members and have more frequent interactions because they only have a small number of employees reporting to them. Consistent communication can help staff members feel at ease in their roles and boost their confidence in their manager relationships. Supervisors can better assist individual employees and raise both morale and productivity by closely monitoring those who are under their supervision.
Improved employee satisfaction
The increased amounts of direct attention employees receive are a further advantage of delegating fewer employees to a supervisor. Employees may have more opportunities to raise questions, voice concerns, or suggest changes when the scope of control is limited. When managers interact more with those they supervise, they may become aware of issues that may have an impact on workers’ job satisfaction and productivity. This enables them to address problems before they occur and act speedily in the event that an employee’s attitude or performance changes.
Increased company awareness
Managers are more likely to be aware of the status of each of their reports due to the increased communication that narrow control structures allow. They can help the business better understand its employees and their unique needs by conveying crucial information about an employee’s development and performance to higher levels of management. Fewer direct reports can aid managers in developing a thorough understanding of the company and those who work there.
Closer teams
Smaller teams often connect more. This applies to the team’s members as a whole, not just the manager. The team’s overall strength and resilience can increase as a result of managers having more time and resources to devote to working with each individual team member.
More comprehensive training
A smaller area of control allows managers of new hires or staff members performing new tasks to spend more time with staff members and concentrate on their individual training requirements. Managers are more likely to be accessible to respond to inquiries and track development when they oversee fewer employees. This can assist businesses in developing effective training programs for their staff.
What is a narrow span of control?
A management style known as “narrow span of control” involves having supervisors only oversee a small number of workers. The number of workers who in a company report to a supervisor is referred to as the span of control. Wide spans of control, where many employees report to a single manager instead of just a select few, are the opposite of narrow spans of control.
Here are some explanations for why a business might decide to implement a limited span of control:
Disadvantages of a narrow span of control
Although a narrow span of control can benefit the companies that use them greatly, it is not necessarily a good structural style for all businesses. The following are some drawbacks of the limited range of control management structure to take into account:
Inefficient use of resources
A narrow span of control may not be the best use of your resources, depending on your business and your objectives. Some employees in your company won’t need as much direction, and managers might not have enough work to oversee employees. Consider using broader spans of control instead of reducing supervisor contact if employees’ productivity won’t suffer. In this way, managers won’t make redundant tasks for your staff, and they are free to complete their jobs effectively.
This may be particularly true if all employees carry out identical or comparable tasks. When everyone is producing equally, it may be simpler to identify outliers among a larger group of workers. Managers in charge of large operations can assess productivity and performance without needing frequent employee interactions or one-on-one check-ins.
Increased costs
While having fewer employees reporting to a single manager can occasionally be advantageous, some businesses may not be able to afford the hiring costs. Hiring additional managers can increase your companys overhead. To ascertain whether implementing a narrow span of control structure is ideal for your operations and personnel, think about performing a cost-benefit analysis.
Disruptive
A manager may become more involved in their direct reports’ daily tasks if they have fewer employees to oversee. Employees may occasionally find the extra attention helpful, but it can also impede their work and cause them to become distracted. Finding ways to encourage positive interactions between managers and staff can help employees stay effective in their positions.
Limits department cohesion
Certain teams and departments must communicate frequently with one another. If many employees at the same level report to various managers, this may lead to confusion and interfere with department communication. Ensure hierarchies within your business are clear and functional. Small departments with more employees than the few usually associated with a narrow span of control may prefer to report to a single manager or be aware of who is in charge of the entire team.
Span of Control Explained
FAQ
What are the main advantages and disadvantages of wide span of control?
- » Quicker Decision Making: Decisions can be made more quickly when there are fewer layers in the organization.
- » Lower Costs: compared to organizations with a narrow scope of control because fewer managers are required in relation to the workforce
What is span of control in management advantages and disadvantages?
- What it is: A manager’s span of control indicates the number of subordinates for whom they are accountable.
- Faster communication and coordination. …
- Higher motivation. …
- Work flexibility. …
- Lower costs. …
- More delegates. …
- Job satisfaction. …
- Decreased productivity.
