Final answer:
Line managers in line-and-staff organizations have direct authority over employees and make decisions affecting the organization's core business activities, whereas staff managers provide support and advice, using their specialized knowledge to assist line managers.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of line-and-staff organizations, the main difference between line managers and staff managers is that line managers have direct authority over employees and are directly involved in the attainment of organizational goals, while staff managers typically provide support and advice to line managers and are not involved in the direct achievement of these goals. Line managers make decisions that affect the core business activities such as sales, production, and day-to-day operations. In contrast, staff managers tend to have expertise in specialized areas such as human resources, finance, or marketing and use this specialized knowledge to assist line managers in making informed decisions. The hierarchy of authority within organizations establishes a chain of command from the top-level executives down to the front-line employees, ensuring that everyone knows their role and to whom they report. While the traditional hierarchy has been shifting towards a more collaborative and flatter structure, the distinction between line and staff management remains significant, as line managers are ultimately responsible for the performance of the organization, and staff managers play a supporting role.