Page 101 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Management Practices and Organisational Behaviour

Notes Types of Staff

The staff position established as a measure of support for the line managers may take the
following forms:
1. Personal Staff: Here the staff official is attached as a personal assistant or adviser to the
line manager. For example, Assistant to managing director.
2. Specialised Staff: Such staff acts as the fountainhead of expertise in specialised areas like
R&D, personnel, accounting etc. For example, R&D Staff.
3. General Staff: This category of staff consists of a set of experts in different areas who are
meant to advise and assist the top management on matters called for expertise. For example,
Financial advisor, technical advisor etc.

Features of Line and Staff Organisation

1. Under this system, there are line officers who have authority and command over the
subordinates and are accountable for the tasks entrusted to them. The staff officers are
specialists who offer expert advice to the line officers to perform their tasks efficiently.
2. Under this system, the staff officers prepare the plans and give advise to the line officers
and the line officers execute the plan with the help of workers.
3. The line and staff organisation is based on the principle of specialisation.
Advantages or Merits of Line and Staff Organisation

1. It brings expert knowledge to bear upon management and operating problems. Thus, the
line managers get the benefit of specialised knowledge of staff specialists at various
levels.
2. The expert advice and guidance given by the staff officers to the line officers benefit the
entire organisation.

3. As the staff officers look after the detailed analysis of each important managerial activity,
it relieves the line managers of the botheration of concentrating on specialised functions.
4. Staff specialists help the line managers in taking better decisions by providing expert
advice. Therefore, there will be sound managerial decisions under this system.
5. It makes possible the principle of undivided responsibility and authority, and at the same
time permits staff specialisation. Thus, the organisation takes advantage of functional
organisation while maintaining the unity of command.
6. It is based upon planned specialisation.

7. Line and staff organisation has greater flexibility, in the sense that new specialised activities
can be added to the line activities without disturbing the line procedure.

Disadvantages or Demerits of Line and Staff Organisation

1. Unless the duties and responsibilities of the staff members are clearly indicated by charts
and manuals, there may be considerable confusion throughout the organisation as to the
functions and positions of staff members with relation to the line supervisors.
2. There is generally a conflict between the line and staff executives. The line managers feel
that staff specialists do not always give right type of advice, and staff officials generally
complain that their advice is not properly attended to.

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