Riku is a project manager who has 15 employees reporting directly to him. Those 15 employees represent Riku’s
A unity of command.
B span of control.
C chain of command.
D unity of direction.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B. span of control.
In an organization, the span of control refers to the number of employees a manager is responsible for overseeing directly. In this scenario, Riku has 15 employees who report directly to him, meaning his span of control is 15. The span of control is a key aspect of organizational structure because it affects how a manager can effectively supervise and guide their team. A wider span of control, like Riku’s in this case, may require a manager to rely more on delegation and trust in their employees’ ability to work independently. On the other hand, a narrow span of control might involve more direct supervision and control.
The other options do not apply in this context:
- A. unity of command refers to the principle that each employee should have one direct supervisor, ensuring clear lines of authority. While Riku’s employees have one supervisor (him), the principle of unity of command is not specifically related to the number of employees managed.
- C. chain of command refers to the hierarchical structure of authority in an organization, showing who reports to whom. While Riku is part of this chain, the chain of command involves the broader organizational structure, not the direct relationship between him and his employees.
- D. unity of direction refers to the alignment of efforts toward the same goal under one leader. It is about ensuring that all activities in an organization are focused on the same objective, rather than being about the number of employees under a manager.
In summary, Riku’s 15 employees represent his span of control, as it describes the direct supervision he has over those employees.