Span of control is the number of people who report directly to a given manager. A wide span means a manager oversees many direct reports; a narrow span means few. Neither is automatically right or wrong - it depends on the complexity of the work being managed.
What it means
A span that is too wide can leave a manager unable to give each report meaningful attention; too narrow, and the organisation carries more management layers and cost than the work requires. Reviewing span of control across the organogram is a standard part of organisational design.
Where it fits in
Span of control affects the management cost embedded in the payroll bill - a structure with many narrow spans carries more manager salaries relative to the work being done than one with wider, well-supported spans.
Key rules
- The number of direct reports a manager has.
- Too wide risks inadequate attention; too narrow adds unnecessary management cost.
- Reviewed as part of organisational design alongside the organogram.
- Directly influences how much of the payroll bill goes to management layers.
