LINE AND STAFF ORGANISATION - February 20, 2010
As organization grow larger in size and operating on a big scale, line managers cannot give their attentions to every part of t he management. They have limited expertise in limited area of operation. They do not have time to think and plan and they are busy with the ordinary task of production, finance and marketing. This necessitates the appointment of staff to do the work of investigations, research, recording and giving advice to line managers. The staff support, assist and advise the line managers and they reduce the overburden of line managers.
In the and staff organization, the line authority remains the same as it does in the line organization i.e. the authority flows from top to bottom and the line executives perform the major functions, staff support and advise the line executives.
Thus the staff brings specialization by assisting the line officers. The line maintains discipline and stability because of the existence staff. Staff provides expert information and helps to improve the overall efficiency of the organization. Thus the staff is ‘thinkers’ while the lines are ‘doers’.