ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Business organisational structure
Fayad Ltd's employees complain that instructions from the director take weeks to reach the shop floor, passing through eight levels of management. Which concept does this describe, and what is the likely cause?
This is a long scalar chain, the line of authority running through many management levels. It is typically caused by narrow spans of control, because each manager has few subordinates and so more levels are needed, which slows communication downwards.
- AA long scalar chain, caused by narrow spans of controlCorrect
- BA short scalar chain, caused by wide spans of control
- CA long span of control, caused by centralised decision-making
Explanation
The scalar chain is the line of authority from top to bottom. Eight levels is a long chain, and it typically arises when managers have few subordinates each (narrow spans), which adds levels and slows communication. Wide spans would shorten the chain.
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