Which role has direct responsibility over subordinates in the hierarchy?

• A. Line managers
• B. Staff managers
• C. Trade unions
• D. Job descriptions

Answer: (A)

Direct supervision in a company is carried out by line managers. They sit at the point in the chain of command where they directly oversee the work of the people who report to them, assign tasks, check progress, and ensure the team’s outputs meet targets. This hands-on authority means they are responsible for guiding daily work and performance. Staff managers provide specialist support and advice to line managers rather than direct supervision of subordinates. Trade unions represent workers’ interests and negotiate with management, not supervise. Job descriptions outline the duties and responsibilities of a role, but do not involve supervising people. So the role with direct responsibility over subordinates is line management.