Scalar Chain and Span of Control: Principles for Effective Management

Scalar Chain

In an organization, a scalar chain is a chain of supervisors that runs from the highest level of management to the lowest level of staff. This chain identifies the path that communication must follow in order to be effective. Effective communication is crucial for an organization to achieve its objectives. According to the principle of scalar chain, information must follow a pre-defined path to avoid ambiguity. This means that information flows from the highest supervisor to the lowest position in the department. This pattern must be followed in every department for communication to be effective.

Span of Control

The span of control refers to the number of subordinates that a supervisor or manager can effectively and efficiently manage in an organization. For example, a manager with five direct reports has a span of control of five. Adding more hierarchies makes the organizational structure steeper. A large span of control leads to a flatter organizational structure and lower costs. A small span of control leads to a steeper organizational structure, which requires more managers and higher organizational costs. Therefore, it is beneficial for managers to have a large span of control.

Example: Shangri-la Hotel

At Shangri-la Hotel, the owner delegates authority to senior managers Craig and Ailsa, who then communicate with all staff. Craig manages 14 people, including a Sous Chef, a Commis Chef, 8 waiting staff, and 4 kitchen staff. Ailsa manages 17 people, including a reception manager, an accountant, 3 receptionists, 4 cleaning staff, 6 chambermaids, and 2 maintenance staff.