ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Business organisational structure
Which of the following is most likely to allow a manager to operate an effective wider span of control?
A wider span of control is feasible when subordinates are highly trained, experienced and carry out similar routine work, because they need little guidance or supervision. Complex work, geographic dispersion or a manager's heavy other duties all make a narrower span more appropriate.
- ASubordinates perform complex, varied and non-routine tasks
- BSubordinates are highly trained, experienced and doing similar routine workCorrect
- CSubordinates are located at different sites and rarely communicate
- DThe manager has many other non-supervisory duties
Explanation
Wider spans are workable when subordinates are skilled and need little supervision, and their work is similar and routine. Complex tasks, dispersed sites and heavy manager workload all call for a narrower span, so those options are wrong.
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