Line and staff relationship are most two common terms used in business. Here the brief about them.

1. BY :
Abhinav
Harsh
Paridhi
Ravleen
Yogesh
Line and Staff
Relationship

2. Keep your eyes and ears
open, as my forte is
questioning I will be asking
a question in the end.

3. Introduction
Line and Staff are names given to different
types of functions in organizations. A "line
function" is one that directly advances an
organization in its core work. This always
production and sales, and sometimes
also marketing. A "staff function" supports the
organization with specialized advisory and
support functions. For example, human
resources, accounting, public relations and the
legal department are generally considered to
be staff functions.

4. Both terms originatedin theMilitary

5. Origin andDefinition
• A military-type organizational structure, commonly employed in
large, centralized corporations.
• Line and staff management has two separate hierarchies:
(1) The Line hierarchy in which the departments are revenue generators
(manufacturing, selling), and their managers are responsible for
achieving the organization's main objectives by executing the
key functions (such as policy making, target setting, decision making).
(2) The Staff hierarchy, in which the departments are
revenue consumers, and their managers are responsible
for activities that support line functions (such
as accounting, maintenance, personnel management). While both
hierarchies have their own chains of command, a line manager may
have direct control over staff employees but a staff manager may
have no such power over the line employees. In modern practice,
however, the difference in the two hierarchies is not so clear-cut
and jobs often have elements of the both types of functions.

6. Structure

7. Now comes thetime for my Question

8. Why the distinction
Each has a different role and clarifying the same
avoids functional dilemmas. The relationship
between the two is interesting. Generally the
Line is considered as the action guys – the
sleeves rolled-up types and Staff are viewed as
the chair-bound support folk.

9. What IsLineOrganisation
• Line structure consist of direct vertical
relationship which connects the position
and task of each level with those above
and below it.
• It represent the structure in direct virtual
relationship through which authority
travels.

10. Advantages
• Clear cut relationship.
• Unity of command.
• Prompt decision making.
• Effective coordination.
• Fixed responsibility.
• Discipline.

11. Disadvantages
• Difficulty in staffing.
• Concentration of authority.
• Lack of specialization.
• Instability.
• Poor motivation.
• Ineffective communication.
• Not useful for larger enterprises

12. What is Staff Organisation
Person of the organization who provide advice
and service to line.
• Provide expert advice on important matters.
• Enables line people to work more efficiently.
• Cannot directly issue orders to subordinates in
line departments.

13. Advantages
• Specialization.
• Growth and Expansion.
• Lesser burden on line executives.
• Better decisions.
• Training of Line executives.
• Advancement of Research.

14. Disadvantages
• Different orientation.
• Conflict Between line and staff.
• Lack of responsibility.
• Lack of co-ordination.
• Excessive reliance on staff.
• Costly Structure.

15. WORK MANAGER
ENGINEER SUPERINTENDENT
ROUTE CLERK
TIME AND COST CLERK
WORKERS

16. LineAnd Staff Relations
Basically, organizations are tightly knit
together by the cord of authority
relationships, whatever the way of
structuring an organization. Such
authority relationships act as a cohesive
force and integrate the whole
organization. The types and degree of
authority vary with the decision-making
levels. Different authority relationships
basically revolve around line and staff
relationships. “Line and staff relation
refers to a pattern in which staff
specialists advise line managers to
perform their duties.”

17. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF LINE AND STAFF
MANAGERS
• The line managers are responsible for:
 The formulation of objectives, plans and policies.
 Making decisions for the implementation of plans
and policies and attainment of objectives.
 Providing supervision and leadership, achieving
coordination and exercising control.

18. The Staff managers have the responsibility to
 Advice, help and guide the line managers in the
performance of the above functions.
 Provide specified administrative services.
 Interpret objective plans and policies.
 Make the best tools available for the implementation of
plans and policies.
 Help in the selection and training of employees.
 Measure organizational effectiveness.

19. LINE AND STAFF CONFLICT
• Line and staff relationship is based on the assumption that both
support each other and work harmoniously to achieve
organizational objectives. However, there are frequent instances
of conflict between line and staff in the organization. This
generates lots of friction and loss of time and consequently loss
of organizational effectiveness. Therefore, there is a need for
analyzing the sources of line and staff conflict and then to take
actions to overcome the problem of conflict.
•
• These relations are often characterized more by conflict than
cooperation. Staff specialists complain that line managers are
resistant to their ideas and the line managers complain that staff
managers are sky-gazing specialists with no comprehension of
practical situations.

20. ARGUMENTS OF LINE OFFICERS
AGAINST STAFF OFFICERS
 Staff officers have only theoretical knowledge.
 Much of advice given is impractical because they are
not responsible for the results.
 They take into account only the departments goal, not
the organizations goal as a whole.
 Staff officers blame line officers when failures happen
whereas are keen on getting credit for success.

21. ARGUMENTS OF STAFF OFFICERS
AGAINST LINE OFFICERS
 Line officers completely neglect the advice
given by the officers.
 Line officers hesitate to accept new ideas.
They simply reject the advice without
considering its validity.
Some line officers are not ready to ask for
any advice from the staff officers.