Chain of Command - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 18 July 2024
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	== Chain of Command - Historical Background<ref>History of the concept of Chain of Command [https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Bun-Comp/Chain-of-Command-Principle.html Reference for Business]</ref> ==		== Chain of Command - Historical Background<ref>History of the concept of Chain of Command [https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Bun-Comp/Chain-of-Command-Principle.html Reference for Business]</ref> ==
−	The chain of command principle is ancient, but its application to the management of organizations was only systematized in the twentieth century. Two individuals—the French engineer and executive Henri Fayol and the German sociologist Max Weber—contributed much to our understanding of this principle. In his book, General and Industrial Management, Fayol presented what have come to be known as the fourteen principles of management. These principles include both the unity of command (his fourth principle) and the scalar chain (line of authority). Fayol's principle of the unity of command holds that a subordinate should report to one and only one supervisor. Fayol believed that this was necessary to provide the supervisor with clear position authority, and to prevent a subordinate from receiving conflicting orders. Fayol's scalar chain principle states that authority and responsibility flow, one level at a time, in a vertical line from the highest level in an organization to its lowest level. This line of authority establishes an organization's hierarchy. Fayol believed that it was a management error to abandon the chain of command for no reason, but he also allowed for circumstances in which the chain of command might be bypassed for the good of the company. For example, Fayol suggested that communication delays might sometimes be caused by blind adherence to the chain of command and unity of command principles, and proposed what he called the "gangplank," which allows communications outside the chain of command as long as superiors are made aware. Weber also studied the problems inherent in large organizations, as organizations grew from family structures to much larger entities during the Industrial Revolution (1760–1850). Weber proposed the bureaucracy as a model of efficient organization. Bureaucratic characteristics have clearly defined hierarchies of authority and responsibility, consistent with the chain of command principle.	+	The chain of command principle is ancient, but its application to the management of organizations was only systematized in the twentieth century. Two individuals—the French engineer and executive [[Henri Fayol]] and the German sociologist Max Weber—contributed much to our understanding of this principle. In his book, General and Industrial Management, Fayol presented what have come to be known as the fourteen principles of management. These principles include both the unity of command (his fourth principle) and the scalar chain (line of authority). Fayol's principle of the unity of command holds that a subordinate should report to one and only one supervisor. Fayol believed that this was necessary to provide the supervisor with clear position authority, and to prevent a subordinate from receiving conflicting orders. Fayol's scalar chain principle states that authority and responsibility flow, one level at a time, in a vertical line from the highest level in an organization to its lowest level. This line of authority establishes an organization's hierarchy. Fayol believed that it was a management error to abandon the chain of command for no reason, but he also allowed for circumstances in which the chain of command might be bypassed for the good of the company. For example, Fayol suggested that communication delays might sometimes be caused by blind adherence to the chain of command and unity of command principles, and proposed what he called the "gangplank," which allows communications outside the chain of command as long as superiors are made aware. Weber also studied the problems inherent in large organizations, as organizations grew from family structures to much larger entities during the Industrial Revolution (1760–1850). Weber proposed the bureaucracy as a model of efficient organization. Bureaucratic characteristics have clearly defined hierarchies of authority and responsibility, consistent with the chain of command principle.

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 ==The Purpose of Chain of Command<ref>What is the purpose of Chain of Command [https://www.greeleyschools.org/cms/lib/CO01001723/Centricity/Domain/4216/The%20Purpose%20of%20the%20Chain%20of%20Command.pdf Greeley-Evans]</ref>==
 The chain of command serves two purposes:
-*Decentralize authority: Since it is extremely difficult for one person to supervise every task personally, assignments are passed down through
+*Decentralize authority: Since it is extremely difficult for one person to supervise every task personally, assignments are passed down through the levels of command.
 *Links the different levels of command: Go through each level of command in your chain of command one step at a time until the problem is resolved or the question is answered.
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-== The Importance of Chain of Command'''<ref>Importance of chain of command in business [https://impoff.com/importance-of-chain-of-command/#Importance_of_chain_of_command_in_business Impoff]</ref> ==
+== The Importance of Chain of Command<ref>Importance of chain of command in business [https://impoff.com/importance-of-chain-of-command/#Importance_of_chain_of_command_in_business Impoff]</ref> ==
 In companies, hierarchy begins with the president at the top, following by the vice presidents and senior management employees who report directly to the president.
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-== Types of Chain of Command'''<What are the Two Types of Chain of Command? [https://supriyaorganizingunit.weebly.com/chain-of-command.html Supriya Kohli]</ref> ==
+== Types of Chain of Command<ref>What are the Two Types of Chain of Command? [https://supriyaorganizingunit.weebly.com/chain-of-command.html Supriya Kohli]</ref> ==
 There are two different types of chain of command, a wide or less chain of command. This means is there are really large chains “wide” or there are smaller ones containing five or less higher heads. For wide chains there are many cons when organizations grow larger more levels of management are added which increases overhead costs, there tends to be a decrease in communication and access between top and bottom levels, as a result this can largely impact decision making slowing down the process greatly, and finally it can also lead to loss of contact with clients or customers. With less chain of command overhead costs are low, there is a lot of communication and access between higher and lower ranks, and decision making is done quickly and efficiently.
-== Levels of Chain of Command'''<ref>What are the different levels of Chain of Command? [https://www.marketing91.com/chain-of-command/#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20levels%20of,%2C%20and%20front%2Dline%20managers. Marketing91]</ref> ==
+== Levels of Chain of Command<ref>What are the different levels of Chain of Command? [https://www.marketing91.com/chain-of-command/#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20levels%20of,%2C%20and%20front%2Dline%20managers. Marketing91]</ref> ==
 There are three levels of the chain of command in an organization, such as Top-level managers, middle-level managers, and front-line managers.
 *The top-level management consists of a board of directors, CEO, president, vice president, and owner of an organization. Top-level managers control the whole organization. They are responsible for deciding the goals and objectives of an organization. They learn about the external environment, such as a change of technology in the industry, and make decisions for the organization accordingly. They are also responsible for preparing strategies to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization. They give orders to the managers working at the middle-level of management.
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-[[File:Chain of command vs Span of control.png|400px|Chain of command vs Span of control]]
+[[File:Chain of command vs Span of control.png|500px|Chain of command vs Span of control]]
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-=== Examples of Chain of Command in Business<ref>Examples of Chain of Command in Business [https://pingboard.com/blog/an-introductory-guide-to-the-corporate-chain-of-command-examples/ Pingboard]</ref> ==
+== Examples of Chain of Command in Business<ref>Examples of Chain of Command in Business [https://pingboard.com/blog/an-introductory-guide-to-the-corporate-chain-of-command-examples/ Pingboard]</ref> ==
 The exact chain of command will depend on your company’s industry and what duties are essential to running the business, but these examples should help you get started:
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-'''Advantages of a Chain of Command'''<ref>Advantages of a Good Chain of Command [https://strategiccfo.com/articles/management-ownership/chain-of-command/ Strategic CFO]</ref><br />
+== Advantages of a Chain of Command<ref>Advantages of a Good Chain of Command [https://strategiccfo.com/articles/management-ownership/chain-of-command/ Strategic CFO]</ref> ==
 There are numerous advantages that can come from having a good Chain of Command, including the following:
 *Responsibility: Having different areas of the business can improve accountability by giving everyone a different responsibility. Everyone has their own separate duties, and their own supervisor to keep them accountable.
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-'''Chain of Command Challenges'''<ref>Chain of Command Challenges [https://www.thebalancecareers.com/chain-of-command-1918082 the balance]</ref><br />
+== Chain of Command Challenges<ref>Chain of Command Challenges [https://www.thebalancecareers.com/chain-of-command-1918082 the balance]</ref> ==
 *Chain of command thinking originated in an industrial age when work involved more rote activities, less information, and communication options were limited, Decision making and authority were clearly placed in the hands of a few individuals at or near the top of an organization chart.
 *Today's organizations experience a plethora of communication options, more intellectually challenging and information-based jobs, and the need for faster decision making. The chain of command, in many ways, impedes these new organizational options and needs.
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-===See Also===
+== See Also ==
 *[[Organizational Structure]]
 *[[Organization Chart]]
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-===References===
+== References ==
 <references/>

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:23, 14 June 2022
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−	~~A '''chain of command''' is~~ an [[Organizational Structure\|organizational structure]] ~~that documents how each member~~ of a company ~~reports~~ to ~~one another. At~~ the top of ~~the chart would be the founder~~, ~~owner or [[Chief Executive Officer (CEO)\|CEO]]~~, and ~~the people who report to them would appear directly below~~. ~~This pattern continues until~~ every person ~~or level~~ of ~~employment at the~~ [~~[Organization\|organization]~~] is ~~accounted for~~. ~~This hierarchy changes over~~ time ~~as [[Employee\|employees]] join and leave~~. A chain of command ~~exists to distribute power and responsibilities, keep employees aware~~ of ~~company news~~ and ~~create a system for sharing knowledge~~. ~~It also ensures each employee~~ is ~~responsible for their own work but also has a more senior leader~~ to ~~offer support, encouragement and motivation~~.<ref>~~Defining~~ Chain of Command [https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/chain-of-command Indeed]</ref>	+	In an [[Organizational Structure\|organizational structure]], '''chain of command''' refers to a company's hierarchy of reporting relationships – from the bottom to the top of an organization, who must answer to whom. The chain of command not only establishes accountability, it lays out a company’s lines of authority and decision-making power. A proper chain of command ensures that every task, job position and department has one person assuming responsibility for performance.<ref>Definition - What does Chain of Command mean? [https://smallbusiness.chron.com/chain-command-organizational-structure-59110.html Chron]</ref>
		+
		+	The chain of command is the unbroken line of authority that ultimately links each individual with the top organizational position through a managerial position at each successive layer in between. The concept of chain of command stems from two basic principles: unity of command and the scalar principle. Unity of command means that an individual should have only one boss at any given point in time. The scalar principle states that there should be a clear line of authority from position of ultimate authority at the top to every individual in the organization.
		+
		+	A chain of command is shown in the diagram illustrated below. If decision making in the organization is at higher level of the chain then the organization is called a centralized organization usually small organizations follow such type of structure and if the decision making is at various levels in the organization. In this structure organization is said to be decentralized as many people have an authority of making decisions.<ref>What is Chain of Command? [https://www.mbaskool.com/business-concepts/human-resources-hr-terms/16140-chain-of-command.html MBA Skool]</ref>
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Chain of Command.png\|400px\|Chain of Command]]
		+
		+
		+	'''Traditional Chain of Command'''<ref>What is a Traditional Chain of Command [https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/chain-of-command Indeed]</ref><br />
		+	The chain of command is a very traditional way of structuring a company's authority levels. It's common to see the same chain of command structure at various organizations, from customer-based businesses to government entities.
		+
		+	A business owner or CEO holds the position at the top of a chain of command because they hold the top position at the company. The next level down usually includes senior executives or individuals who are in vice president roles over a part of the organization. These individuals report directly to the owner or CEO.
		+
		+	Under the upper management level, you may find individual managers or supervisors who are responsible for an entire department or group of employees. These employees would appear under the middle-management level and at the bottom of the chain of command to represent that their authority figure is their direct supervisor. It's also common to find several ways to break down the hierarchy even further, depending on how large a company is, how many departments it has and more. There may be more management levels or fewer, depending on business needs.
		+
		+	The important thing to remember is that the farther at the bottom of the hierarchy your position is, the less authority you may have. Those at the top of the hierarchy possess more control over organizational developments and are in the position to make important decisions. They also carry more accountability and responsibility for the company's success and all the individuals who fall under them in the chain of command.
		+
		+	While there is a traditional structure to a chain of command, you may find the language used in a company's hierarchy to differ from one business to another. Some companies use traditional terms like "superior" and "subordinate" to describe members of a company's hierarchy, while others use "team members," "employees" or actual job titles.

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:48, 10 May 2021
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−	'''~~Content coming soon~~'''	+	A '''chain of command''' is an [[Organizational Structure\|organizational structure]] that documents how each member of a company reports to one another. At the top of the chart would be the founder, owner or [[Chief Executive Officer (CEO)\|CEO]], and the people who report to them would appear directly below. This pattern continues until every person or level of employment at the [[Organization\|organization]] is accounted for. This hierarchy changes over time as [[Employee\|employees]] join and leave. A chain of command exists to distribute power and responsibilities, keep employees aware of company news and create a system for sharing knowledge. It also ensures each employee is responsible for their own work but also has a more senior leader to offer support, encouragement and motivation.<ref>Defining Chain of Command [https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/chain-of-command Indeed]</ref>