What Is The Difference Between Line And Staff Authority?

What is difference between line and staff?

Staff and line are names given to different types of functions in organizations.

A “line function” is one that directly advances an organization in its core work.

A “staff function” supports the organization with specialized advisory and support functions.


What is a staff authority?

Staff authority is the provision of advice and other services to line managers. People in these staff positions are empowered to assist the line functions (such as production and sales), but do not have any authority over them.

What is meant by line authority?

Line authority is the power given to someone in a supervisory position to mandate actions by subordinates. This authority is given so that an organization can attain its stated goals and objectives.

What are the five types of authority?

Types of Authority:Legal Authority.Traditional or Formal or top-down Authority.Acceptance or Bottom-up Authority.Charismatic Authority.Competence or personal Authority.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of line and staff Organisation?

Disadvantages of Line and Staff Organisation:Conflict between Line and Staff Personnel: ADVERTISEMENTS: … Lack of Responsibility: There is a lack of responsibility for staff officials. … More Dependence on Staff: The line officers become habituated for advice on staff. … Lack of Co-Ordination: … Ineffective Staff: … Expensive:

What line means?


Is an example of a line position?

A line position is directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization, such as producing or selling a product or service. Line positions are occupied by line personnel and line managers. … An example of a line manager is a marketing executive.

What is line authority and how does it look on an organizational chart?

03 Lesson – Review Business Operations and Organizational StructuresABUnity of Command-clear reporting relationship for all staff of a businessWhat is line authority, and how does it look on an organizational chart?Line authority can be traced in a line from the top of an organization to the bottom.23 more rows

What is formal authority?

Formal authority is the authority provided by an organization or the law to an individual enabling him to carry out certain actions in accordance with his own will and without the need to consult others.

Can line authority and staff authority be used interchangeably?

Line Authority: Managers with line authority are those people in the organization who are directly responsible for achieving organizational goals. … Staff Authority: Staff authority belongs to those individuals or groups in an organization who provide services and advice to line mangers.

Who is a line employee?


What is a staff position?

A staff position is a position whose primary purpose is providing specialized expertise and assistance to line positions. Staff can also be defined by the type of people: technical or support. Technical staff are specialists, such as engineers and economists.

WHAT IS staff and line authority?

Line Authority vs Staff Authority Line authority is the type of authority that reflects superior-subordinate relationships characterized by the power of decision making. Staff authority refers to the right to advice on improving the effectiveness for line employees in performing their duties.

What is an advantage of a line and staff authority organization structure over a line authority organization?

Productivity. Line managers can work more efficiently with staff managers handling specialized functions. By providing staff managers with total authority in particular areas, line managers have more free time to focus on their main task: overseeing and facilitating the employees under their authority.

Why is authority important in an organization?

However, as an important key to the manager’s job, authority is the power to command others and decide to act or refrain from acting to achieve the organization’s goals. A manager needs authority. It makes his position real and gives him the power to order his subordinates and get them to comply.

What are the different types of authority relationships?

Based on this work, Weber developed a classification system for authority. His three types of authority are traditional authority, charismatic authority, and legal-rational authority (Weber 1922). Table 1. Max Weber identified and explained three distinct types of authority.

What is the advantage of line and staff Organisation?

Merits of Line and Staff Organization There is the benefit of specialization in this system. The whole organization is planned in such a way that the work is divided according to specialization. This concentration of authority also helps with better and more efficient decision making.