What is span of control, and how does it influence whether a company uses a tall or flat structure?

• A. Span of control is the budget allocated to managers to control people.
• B. Span of control is the number of subordinates reporting to a manager; a wide span leads to a flatter structure, and a narrow span leads to a taller structure.
• C. Span of control is about customer contacts; wider contact means taller structure.
• D. Span of control is the number of advisors for a manager; tall structures occur with more advisors.

Answer: (B)

Span of control is the number of people who report directly to a manager. When this number is large, a manager oversees many subordinates, so there are fewer layers in the hierarchy, resulting in a flatter structure. When the number is small, more management levels are needed to supervise the few subordinates, leading to a taller structure. This choice explains how the balance between control and delegation shapes the organization: a wide span can speed up communication and decision-making and works well with empowered teams, while a narrow span allows closer supervision and more hands-on control but can slow down overall communication due to more levels. The other options describe budgets, customer contacts, or advisors, which are not what span of control measures.