Final answer:
Span of control, such as a 1:5 ratio, ensures efficient management by determining the number of subordinates a supervisor can effectively oversee, impacting supervision and feedback, support and recognition, and managing pressures within an organization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Span of control, specifically one supervisor to five subordinates (1:5), refers to the number of subordinates that a manager or supervisor can effectively oversee. This concept is a critical aspect of organizational structure and affects the efficiency of management. It does not directly specify employee duties, determine work hours, or establish salary ranges, although these elements can be influenced indirectly by how a span of control is implemented within an organization.
In the context of a hierarchy of authority, the span of control helps define the chain of command, ensuring that each supervisor or manager has a manageable number of employees to oversee, thus supporting the goals of scientific management such as increasing worker's efficiency.