Final answer:
The span of control in an organization is primarily influenced by the amount of authority given to a supervisor and the number of hierarchical levels within the organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The span of control in an organization is primarily influenced by the amount of authority given to a supervisor and the number of hierarchical levels within the organization. The span of control refers to the number of subordinates a manager or supervisor can effectively oversee. If a supervisor has a wide span of control, they have more subordinates under their supervision, whereas if they have a narrow span of control, they have fewer subordinates to oversee.
For example, in an organization with a narrow span of control, each supervisor may have fewer subordinates to manage, which allows for closer supervision and more personalized attention. On the other hand, in an organization with a wide span of control, supervisors may have more subordinates under their supervision, which can lead to less direct supervision but allows for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Ultimately, the appropriate span of control will depend on various factors such as the nature of the organization, the type of services or products being produced, and the level of authority granted to supervisors.