Define span of control and explain why it matters.

• A. Span of control is the geographic area a manager oversees; affects regional strategies.
• B. Span of control is the number of subordinates reporting to a manager; affects communication, supervision, and cost.
• C. Span of control is the budget a manager controls; affects profitability.
• D. Span of control is the number of products a manager oversees; affects product range.

Answer: (B)

Span of control is the number of subordinates reporting to a manager. It matters because it directly affects how well a manager can communicate with, supervise, and control costs for their team. A wide span can speed up decision-making and reduce overhead by having fewer managers, but it makes close supervision and clear, consistent guidance harder. A narrow span allows for tighter supervision and easier communication, but increases the number of managers and overall costs, and can slow decisions due to more layers of authority. Getting the balance right helps the organization stay efficient while still guiding staff effectively. This definition best captures how the size of a manager’s team links to communication, supervision, and cost.