Question

Compare and contrast line and staff positions and the various forms of authority of each position

Answer 1

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Answer: Comparison of line and staff positions

A line position is a position that has direct responsibility and authority of achieving major goals of an organization. This position includes people which are directly related to achievement of basic objectives of organization such as production manager and personnel, selling and marketing manager and personnel.

A staff position is a position that supports people in line position to achieve the goals. They are basically subject experts and professionals who provide guidance and advise to people in line position. They have indirect responsibility of achieving organization's goal. This position includes people like engineers, economists, HR Professionals, Accountants etc. who support people of line position.

Line managers have complete authority over people who work under them and report to them. As theyvare directly responsible for achieving organization goal so they have direct authority as well.

Staff managers have supervisory authority over staff personnel and have advisory authority over line managers i.e., they can only advise line managersmanagers but whether to consider the advise of staff manager or not is completely on line manager's discretion.

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