Question

differentiate between a department with line responsibility and a department with staff responsibility

Answer 1

Line departments are directly involved in the core operations of an organization and have the authority to make decisions affecting the main business activities. Staff departments provide specialized support and advice to line departments but do not directly engage in core business operations. Conflicts can arise when priorities or misunderstandings about roles occur between these two types of departments.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an organizational context, the difference between a department with line responsibility and one with staff responsibility is primarily about the nature and scope of their authority and functions. A line department is directly involved in the core activities of the organization, such as production and selling in a business setting. As such, line managers have the authority to make decisions and give orders regarding the main business operations.

A staff department, on the other hand, provides specialized advice, support, and services to the line departments. While they play a crucial role in the organization, staff departments do not have direct authority over the main business operations. An example of staff responsibilities might be found in the Human Resources or Legal departments of a company, which assist and advise line managers but do not directly engage in selling products or services.

Conflict between line and staff responsibilities may arise when there is a discrepancy in priorities or misunderstandings about roles. For instance, if a line manager needs to increase production but a staff department prioritizes cost-cutting, this could create tension. Another scenario could be a staff department implementing a new compliance procedure that line workers find cumbersome and impeding their workflow.

Answer 2

While a department with line responsibility is directly involved in the daily activities and management of the business, a department with staff responsibility simply provides support for the line managers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The line department consists of the chain of leaders whose positions in the organization are clearly differentiated from those of their subordinates. They make decisions and supervise the daily affairs of the business. Examples of these include; the department heads, the president, the production supervisors, etc.

A department with staff responsibility provides support for the department with line responsibility. Examples of personnel in the line department are the legal advisers and the human resource staff. The legal advisers provide support by advising the line managers on the lawful means to transact their business activities.