Departmentation
can be defined as the division of work into smaller units and their re-grouping
into bigger units (departments) on the basis of similarity of features.
can be defined as the division of work into smaller units and their re-grouping
into bigger units (departments) on the basis of similarity of features.
Department
is the foundation of organizational structure, that is, organization structure depends upon
department. As the organization grows in size, the work is divided into units
and sub-units department are created of
similar nature and activities are group into one unit. Each department
in headed by a person known as departmental manager. Departmentation helps in
expending an organization and promotes efficiency by dividing the work on the
basis of specialization of activities and appointing people in various department
on the basis of their specialized
is the foundation of organizational structure, that is, organization structure depends upon
department. As the organization grows in size, the work is divided into units
and sub-units department are created of
similar nature and activities are group into one unit. Each department
in headed by a person known as departmental manager. Departmentation helps in
expending an organization and promotes efficiency by dividing the work on the
basis of specialization of activities and appointing people in various department
on the basis of their specialized
Importance
of departmentation
of departmentation
The following points summarized the importance
of departmentation
of departmentation
1.
Organization
structure-: it helps in developing the organization structure by creating
department, assigning tasks to people,
fixes their responsibility and accountability to other departmental heads,
creates a span of management so that work can be easily supervised.
Organization
structure-: it helps in developing the organization structure by creating
department, assigning tasks to people,
fixes their responsibility and accountability to other departmental heads,
creates a span of management so that work can be easily supervised.
2.
Flexibility-:
in large organization one person cannot
peform all management function for all the department. Departmentation helps in creating department and departmental
heais which makes them flexible and adaptive to environment. Environmental changes
can be incorporated which strengthen the organizations competitiveness in the
markets.
Flexibility-:
in large organization one person cannot
peform all management function for all the department. Departmentation helps in creating department and departmental
heais which makes them flexible and adaptive to environment. Environmental changes
can be incorporated which strengthen the organizations competitiveness in the
markets.
3.
Specialization-:
people of the same area of specialization are assigned in one departments which increase their
ability to perform more speedily and efficiently. It also lower the cost of
production and makes the product competitive.
Specialization-:
people of the same area of specialization are assigned in one departments which increase their
ability to perform more speedily and efficiently. It also lower the cost of
production and makes the product competitive.
4.
Sharing
of resources -: departmentation helps in showing resources according to
departmental needs. Priorities set and
resources are allocated to the need, importance and urgency regarding their use
by different departments.
Sharing
of resources -: departmentation helps in showing resources according to
departmental needs. Priorities set and
resources are allocated to the need, importance and urgency regarding their use
by different departments.
5.
Co-ordination-: creating departments focuses on
departmentation activities and facilities co-ordination.
Co-ordination-: creating departments focuses on
departmentation activities and facilities co-ordination.
6.
Control,-:
departmentation facilities control of a departmental facilities control of a
departmental activities by the departmental manager because one manager cannot
oversee all the departments. Activities are divided into smaller segments,
standards of performance can be framed, factors affecting performance
can be indentified and control can be more objective in nature
Control,-:
departmentation facilities control of a departmental facilities control of a
departmental activities by the departmental manager because one manager cannot
oversee all the departments. Activities are divided into smaller segments,
standards of performance can be framed, factors affecting performance
can be indentified and control can be more objective in nature
7.
Efficiency -: there is a flow of work from one
level to another through departmentation which calls for efficiency.
Efficiency -: there is a flow of work from one
level to another through departmentation which calls for efficiency.
Line functions are those that have direct
impact on the accomplishment of the objectives of the enterprise. Line
functions include production, sales and sometimes finance
impact on the accomplishment of the objectives of the enterprise. Line
functions include production, sales and sometimes finance
Staff functions are those that help the line persons work most effectively
in accomplishing the objectives. Staff functions includes accounting, personal,
plant maintenances and quality control. Line authority over a subordinate. It exists
in all organization as an uninterrupted
scale or series of steps hence, the scalar principle in organization:
the clearer the line of authority from
the ultimate management position in an
enterprise to every subordinate is the clearer will be the responsibility for
decision making and the more effective will be organization communication. The scalar principle make it apparent that
line authority is that relationship in which a superior exercises direct
supervision over a subordinate authorities relationship being in direct line or
steps.
in accomplishing the objectives. Staff functions includes accounting, personal,
plant maintenances and quality control. Line authority over a subordinate. It exists
in all organization as an uninterrupted
scale or series of steps hence, the scalar principle in organization:
the clearer the line of authority from
the ultimate management position in an
enterprise to every subordinate is the clearer will be the responsibility for
decision making and the more effective will be organization communication. The scalar principle make it apparent that
line authority is that relationship in which a superior exercises direct
supervision over a subordinate authorities relationship being in direct line or
steps.
There is
an advisory relationship in the nature of staff. The function of people in a
pure staff capacity is to investigate,
research and give advice to line authority is responsible to run the
organization according to its strategic plan.
an advisory relationship in the nature of staff. The function of people in a
pure staff capacity is to investigate,
research and give advice to line authority is responsible to run the
organization according to its strategic plan.
Staff
authority play and advisory role as their jobs is to investigate, research and
give advice to line managers. For an organization to run properly, both line
and staff contribution is requires.
authority play and advisory role as their jobs is to investigate, research and
give advice to line managers. For an organization to run properly, both line
and staff contribution is requires.
Benefits
of staff
of staff
1.
Assisting in decision making
Assisting in decision making
2.
Relieving
an over-burdened top executive
Relieving
an over-burdened top executive
3.
Heading
complex managerial functions
Heading
complex managerial functions
Limitations
of staff
of staff
1.
Line
authority being undermined
Line
authority being undermined
2.
Impracticality
of staff recommendations.
Impracticality
of staff recommendations.
3.
Disunity
in command
Disunity
in command
4.
Complication
in leadership and control.
Complication
in leadership and control.
Line and staff conflicts
An
unfortunate result of the line and staff concept is that it often result into
some sort of conflicts. In fact, there is a continuous warfare sometimes open
and sometimes concealed between them.
unfortunate result of the line and staff concept is that it often result into
some sort of conflicts. In fact, there is a continuous warfare sometimes open
and sometimes concealed between them.
The major
source of line and staff conflict is the difference in their view points and
perceptions. The following are the important causes of line and staff conflicts.
source of line and staff conflict is the difference in their view points and
perceptions. The following are the important causes of line and staff conflicts.
1.
Staff
officers encroach upon the line authority. They interfere in the work of line
managers and try to tell them how to do
their work
Staff
officers encroach upon the line authority. They interfere in the work of line
managers and try to tell them how to do
their work
2.
Staff
does not know its place and wants to assume line authority. This is generated
more which the staff advisor forgets his position of having to be helpful rather than being in a position
Staff
does not know its place and wants to assume line authority. This is generated
more which the staff advisor forgets his position of having to be helpful rather than being in a position
3.
Staff
takes full credit for successful programmers and how line people wholly
responsible for unsuccessful schemes.
Staff
takes full credit for successful programmers and how line people wholly
responsible for unsuccessful schemes.
4.
The
advice of the staff is academic, and is devoid of reality. Since they are not
involved in the real work situation, their advice is impractical
The
advice of the staff is academic, and is devoid of reality. Since they are not
involved in the real work situation, their advice is impractical
5.
Staff men
generally fail to see the whole picture
objectively as they are specialists in their
particular areas
Staff men
generally fail to see the whole picture
objectively as they are specialists in their
particular areas
Overcoming
line-staff conflicts
line-staff conflicts
The following points are imperative in overcoming or solving line and staff conflicts
1.
Understanding
authority relationship-: line people should have authority for making operating
decision, staff people should contribute to achieve organizational objectives by making recommendations and
providing advice in their respective fields. Staff people should rely more on
the authority of knowledge and
competence rather than authority of position.
Understanding
authority relationship-: line people should have authority for making operating
decision, staff people should contribute to achieve organizational objectives by making recommendations and
providing advice in their respective fields. Staff people should rely more on
the authority of knowledge and
competence rather than authority of position.
2.
Proper
use of staff-: there should be encouragement and education to line people as to how to make
maximum use of staff effectively. Line people cannot make use of staff unless
they know what a specialist can do for them. Staff should not be kept busy in
unimportant works because it does not serve any meaningful purpose. Staff
people should be involved in basic stage pf planning of an activity rather than when the people have taken some actions
directly affecting staff activities without consulting staff people, they
should be informed immediately about
these
Proper
use of staff-: there should be encouragement and education to line people as to how to make
maximum use of staff effectively. Line people cannot make use of staff unless
they know what a specialist can do for them. Staff should not be kept busy in
unimportant works because it does not serve any meaningful purpose. Staff
people should be involved in basic stage pf planning of an activity rather than when the people have taken some actions
directly affecting staff activities without consulting staff people, they
should be informed immediately about
these
3.
Completed
staff work-: Generally ideas staff
arrangement result in completed staff work. The completed staff requires more rigorous staff
people but it result in two things
Completed
staff work-: Generally ideas staff
arrangement result in completed staff work. The completed staff requires more rigorous staff
people but it result in two things
a. The line superior is protected from half baked
ideas, voluminous paper work, and immature oral presentations
ideas, voluminous paper work, and immature oral presentations
b. Staff people who cannot put forward their ideas in
the form of completed staff work command more respect and value which help in getting their ideas
accepted.
the form of completed staff work command more respect and value which help in getting their ideas
accepted.
