SPAN OF CONTROL (SOC)
Q. Write a short note on Span of Control.
Q. Explain the determinants of Span of Control.
Introduction/Meaning
Prof, J. D Millet said “Experience and psychological research have both confirmed that there is a limit to the
supervisory capacity of an administrative officer.” As human SOC is limited, so there is limit of number of persons
over whom a superior can keep control effectively.
The SOC means that the superior exercises and can exercise control over the work of only a limited number of
subordinate. SOC is related to the psychological issues of span of attention which refers to the no. of the things and
person who one can attain at a time. In fact, SOC is nothing but the principle og span of attention applied to the work
of supervision and control of subordinate.
The issue of SOC is the natural outflow of scattered principle. There is lack of consensus among the scholars
regarding the exact meaning of SOC. VA Graicunas opined that officer can supervise three to four subordinate. Sir Ian
Hamilton fixed the limit at three to six and Urwick at four to five and for lower officers, it should not be more than
Eight to twelve. SOC, Graicunas felt while the number of subordinates increases arithmetically, the number of
relationship increases almost geometrically. Graham Walas held that chief executive is to supervise ten to twelve
person without facing any extra burden. There is, however, no unanimity among the scholars on the point that the
shorter the span, the greater will be the contact, and consequently more effective control.
Determinants/ Factors of Span of Control
The exact length of span will depend of many variable factors. Prof Luther Gullick has indicated following factors of
SOC:
● Nature and function of work: when the nature of work is routine the SOC is more than the work that is of
non-routine, intellectual, heterogeneous and complex character.
● Time: SOC is greater and supervision can be rapid in an already established organisation while in a new
organisation that is yet to be set and in which new problem keep on arising, SOC is limited.
● Space: space refers to the physical distance or nearness between the officials and subordinate. SOC
increases when people are working under the roof compared to the scattered in different places.
● Capacity or personality of superior: If the superior is competent, charming, abled and attractive, he can
supervise more person than when he is weak.
Along with the above main factors, the other factors influencing SOC include:
● Qualification and skill/qualities of officers: some managers are more capable of supervising large numbers of
people than others. Thus for a manager who possesses qualities of leadership, decision-making ability, and
communication skill in greater degree the span of control may be wider.
● Degree of delegation: An executive who personally takes many decisions is able to supervise fewer people
than an executive who merely provides encouragement and occasional direction.
● Ability of the subordinates: Fresh entrants to jobs take more of a supervisor’s time than trained persons who
have acquired experience in the job. Subordinates who have good judgement, initiative, and a sense of
obligation seek less guidance from the supervisor. Thus, span of control is less.
● Use of communication technology : If face-to-face communication is used, then the span of control will be
narrow. However, if electronic devices are used for communication then the span of control will be wide.
Thus one can say there are various factors that influence the SOC which include, education and skill of officers,
means of communication, administrative and managerial need etc. The informational revolution , growing no. Of
specialists and the advent of e-governance have also in recent time lengthen the SOC. But ultimately it is the
differences of personality and skill of the superior that determined the SOC.
Types/ advantage/ Disadvantage of Span of Control
The span of control can be of two types i.e., narrow and wide SOC:
Wide SOC: Wide span of control means a single manager or supervisor oversees a large number of subordinates. This
gives rise to a flat organizational structure. Wide span of control has features as it leads to maximized
communication; better supervision; better co-ordination; suitable for routine and easy jobs; prompt response from
employees; less overhead cost of supervision and greater ability to respond to environmental changes.
Advantage:
1) Faster communication and coordination.
2) Higher Motivation
3) Work Flexibility
4) Low cost
5) More delegate
6) Job Satisfaction
Disadvantage:
1) Decreased Productivity
2) Bad decision
3) Losing control
4) Less effective communication
Narrow SOC: hen the work and authority is divided amongst many subordinates and a manager supervises and
controls a small group of people, then narrow span of control exists. It adds more layers or levels of management
and so leads to tall organization. Main features of narrow span of control are as specialization work can be achieved;
messages can be distorted; co-ordination is difficult to achieve; communication gaps can come; more overhead cost
of supervision and no quick response to environmental changes.
Advantage:
1) More control
2) Better productivity
3) Better decision
4) More effective communication
Disadvantage:
1) Lower morale
2) Greater cost
3) Slower communication and coordination
Conclusion/Importance
The concept of SOC is of immense value for the organisation of an administration as the quality of work of an
organisation depends upon effective control and supervision system. The SOC keeps an organisation effective and
productive by fostering desired control and coordination among all employee of an organisation. If the SOC seeks the
capacity of individual, it result in breakdown of an organisation.
In the modern era, one finds an increase in the number of experts in Public services who do not accept interference
in their work. Their free place in their administrative field has made it possible to increase the SOC.
To sum up, the quality of work in an organisation depends on the effectiveness of control of the superior over the
subordinates. But because SOC is limited by the span of human attention, a superior cannot exercise control over
unlimited number of persons.
