line-and-staff-functions

课 Progress

0% Complete

Line and staff functions

A line function is a department or role that is directly involved in achieving the core objectives of the business — typically related to production, sales, or operations
- These roles have direct responsibility for performance and decision-making in the core areas of producing goods or delivering services
  - E.g. In a car manufacturing company, the production manager who oversees vehicle assembly is in a line function because they are directly involved in making the product

A staff function is a department or role that provides advice, support, or specialist services to the line departments — but is not directly involved in core operations
- Staff functions usually include human resources, finance, IT and marketing
  - E.g. The HR manager who organises training and recruitment for the factory workers is in a staff function because they don’t make cars but help those who do

Both line and staff functions are essential
- Line functions drive the business, and staff functions enable it to run smoothly
However, conflicts sometimes arise between them
- This conflict can arise due to differences in perspective, poor communication or unclear roles
- Managing these conflicts well helps a business stay productive and efficient

Reason for conflict	Explanation	Example
Advice versus authority	Staff functions, like HR or finance, may give advice, but line managers may ignore it if they prefer to act on their own judgement	An HR advisor recommends hiring a candidate based on skill tests, but the line manager chooses someone else based on experience
Lack of understanding	Staff may not fully understand the practical challenges of production or customer-facing roles, leading to unrealistic suggestions	A finance team sets strict budget limits without understanding urgent production needs on the factory floor
Communication breakdown	Poor communication between staff and line departments can lead to confusion or delays	The IT department changes a system without informing sales staff, disrupting their ability to serve customers
Conflicting priorities	Line functions focus on immediate results, while staff functions may focus on long-term strategy or legal compliance	A sales manager wants to launch a new offer quickly, but the legal team delays it while they carry out contract checks
Perceived interference	Line managers may feel that staff departments are interfering in their responsibilities	A production manager resents the HR department stepping in to handle disciplinary issues in their team