What is the motivation for limiting the span of control of a manager to a specified number of subordinates or manufacturing processes? What problems might this cause in coordinating the plant?

Span of control refers to the number of subordinates or processes that a manager can effectively oversee and manage. It is an essential aspect of organizational structure that affects both organizational efficiency and managerial effectiveness.

There are several reasons for limiting the span of control of a manager: 1. Ensuring effective supervision and control: A manager can only effectively manage a certain number of subordinates or processes. If the span of control is too large, it becomes difficult for them to supervise and control each employee or process efficiently. 2. Facilitating communication: A limited span of control allows for better communication between the manager and their subordinates. This ensures that the manager stays informed about any issues or problems that may arise in their area of responsibility. 3. Training and development: Limiting the span of control allows the manager to focus on training and developing their subordinates. This is important to ensure that employees have the skills and knowledge required to perform their tasks and contribute to the organization's goals.

Limiting the span of control can cause some problems in coordinating the plant: 1. Bureaucracy: A smaller span of control often results in a hierarchical structure with several layers of management, which can lead to increased bureaucracy. These additional layers of management may slow down decision-making and communication. 2. Coordination challenges: With numerous managers overseeing smaller groups of subordinates or processes, coordinating activities and decisions can be more challenging. There may be a lack of clarity in terms of who is responsible for specific tasks or decision-making. 3. Inefficiencies: The additional layers of management may lead to higher operational costs, duplicate efforts, and reduced efficiency. To mitigate some of these potential problems, the organization needs to strike a balance in determining the optimal span of control, ensuring efficient coordination while maintaining effective supervision and communication.