Line and staff positions (линейньіе и управленческие должности)

In business organization structure means the relationship between positions and people who hold the positions. Organization struc­ture is very important because it provides an efficient work system as well as a system of communication.

Historically, line structure is the oldest type of organization struc­ture. The main idea of it is direct vertical relationship between the po­sitions and tasks of each level, and the positions and tasks above and bellow each level. For example, a sales manager may be in a line position between a vice-president of marketing and a salesman. Thus a vice-president of marketing has direct authority over a salesman. This chain of command simplifies the problems of giving and taking orders.

When a business grows in size and becomes more complex, there is a need for specialists. In such a case administrators may organize staff departments and add staff specialists to do specific work. These people are usually busy with services, they are not tied in with the company product. The activities of the staff departments include an accounting, personnel, credit and advertising. Generally, they do not give orders to other departments.

relationship — взаимоотноше-

ние to hold a position — занимать должность organization structure — op-

ганизационная структура

level — уровень

sales manager —управляющий

по торговле, маркетингу salesman — продавец, торговец to have direct authority over

smb. — иметь прямую власть

над кем-либо

to give orders — отдавать при-

казы

to take orders — принимать

приказы

complex — сложный

staff — штат; управление

staff department — управлен-

ческий отдел (не имеющий

прямого отношения к произ-

водству, но его обслужи-

вающий)

отдел (имеющий непосред- product — иметь отношен

к конечному продукту

1. 
   What does the organization structure mean?
   
2. 
   What does the organization structure provide?
   
3. 
   What is historically the oldest type of organization structure?
   

1. 
   In what position is a sales manager in attitude to a vice-presidenl о marketing and a salesman?
   

4. 
   What is the difference between line and staff departments?
   

2. 
   Why is an advertising department or a credit department considered staff structure rather than line structure?
   

1. 
   Organization structure shows ... between each position and po­sitions above and below.
   
2. 
   A sales manager has direct ...over a salesman.
   
3. 
   As a rule a ... usually does not give orders to other departments.
   
4. 
   When the business gets more ... there is a need for staff de­partments.
   
5. 
   My friend … … of sales manager.
   
6. 
   The ... of staff departments is to do different services.
   
7. 
   My friend works in a … …he is responsible for the company pro­duct.
   

(Peggy Forman is talking with Jaff Downing, another administrative assistant in her company.)

groups. It gives one an overview of the chain of command in

the company.

Peggy I see. The positions can be line and staff ones.

Jaff Yes. The subject is not new to you. What else do you know

about it?

from his immediate subordinate.

he neither gives nor receives orders for line workers. Am I right?

people in his department and not be considered a line ad­

ministrator.

Peggy How can it be?

Jaff That's possible when a whole department is a staff de-

partment. For example, in our company the head of the credit

president of the company.

work different?

the same service for any company. So they are not in the line.

one manages directly.

includes three people.

snack together?

зационная схема

представляться

отдел

company yet?

Yes, I have already examined it. No, I haven't examined it yet.

1. 
   Have you reported to the controller yet?
   
2. 
   Have you settled this problem with the manager yet?
   
3. 
   Have you learned line and staff positions of the company yet?
   
4. 
   Have you got acquainted with your immediate superior yet?
   
5. 
   Have you heard about his span of control yet?
   
6. 
   Have you met your immediate subordinates yet?
   
7. 
   Have you passed your report to the credit department yet?
   

A staff employee doesn't receive orders.

A staff employee neither gives, nor receives orders.

1. 
   He isn't a Controller. He isn't a sales manager.
   
2. 
   The head of the credit department doesn't advise the President. The head of the credit department doesn't report to controller.
   
3. 
   He doesn't want to hold a position of vice-president of marketing. He doesn't want to hold a position of general manager.
   
4. 
   A credit department doesn't have direct authority over a line de­partment. A personnel department doesn't have direct authority over a line department.
   

6. 
   She doesn't like to give orders. She doesn't like to receive orders.
   
7. 
   Jecky doesn't want to attend annual meetings of shareholders. Susan doesn't want to attend annual meetings of shareholders either.
   

1. 
   What is your relationship with your immediate superior?
   
2. 
   What position in your company do you want to hold?
   

1. 
   Do you want to be a sales-manager or a vice-president of mar­keting? Give your reasons.
   

3. 
   Over what positions do you have direct authority in your company?
   
4. 
   What do you like more: to give orders or to receive orders?
   

2. 
   Do you want to work in a staff department or in a line department?
   

What line and staff positions can you discern? Speak about the or­ganizational structure of this enterprise.

1. 
   Мои взаимоотношения с начальником очень хорошие.
   
2. 
   Мой друг занимает должность главного финансиста.
   
3. 
   Я не знаком с организационной структурой нашего предприятия.
   
4. 
   Он больше любит отдавать приказания, чем получать их.
   
5. 
   Я предпочитаю работать в линейном отделе.
   
6. 
   Управленческие отделы не связаны с конечним продуктом.
   
7. 
   Структура нашего предприятия сложна.
   
8. 
   Я больше подхожу к управленческой должности, чем к линейной.
   
9. 
   Мой непосредственный начальник очень пунктуален.
   

10. 
    В сферу моего непосредственного подчинения входят три ководителя групп.
    
11. 
    Главный финансист несет очень большую ответственность.
    
12. 
    Я уволю моего непосредственного подчиненного. Он ленив.
    

1. 
   Vice-president gives orders to his employees.
   
2. 
   I receive orders from the sales manager.
   
3. 
   My friend holds a position of general manager.
   
4. 
   Personnel office receives resumes from prospective candidates.
   
5. 
   Staff departments do different services to line departments.
   
6. 
   Usually he takes the orders and fulfils the tasks very quickly.
   

The organizational chart is being examined by my friend.

1. 
   I am sending my annual report to my immediate superior.
   
2. 
   The foreman is firing his immediate subordinate.
   
3. 
   Controller is giving the orders to his employees.
   
4. 
   We are changing the organizational structure of our company.
   
5. 
   The board of directors is enlarging the staff of the company.
   

1. 
   We have considered advantages and disadvantages of partnership.
   
2. 
   I have bought the shares of IBM company.
   
3. 
   This business has involved big financial resources.
   
4. 
   We have elected the board of directors.
   
5. 
   The board of directors have chosen the company officers.
   

1. 
   I'm sorry to say we are not satisfied ... the quality of your goods.
   
2. 
   Model A is ... great demand ... the world market.
   
3. 
   We look forward ... establishing business relations with your com­pany.
   
4. 
   Your prices are not acceptable ... us. We find them too high.
   
5. 
   ... what price do you sell your machines? We quote $ 1,000 ... unit.
   
6. 
   You are to open a Letter ... Credit ... Ukrainian Bank ... Foreign Trade after you receive our Notification ... Readiness.
   

1. 
   Last month we (to place) a trial order with Brown and Co whom we (not to do) business before.
   
2. 
   In June we (to be going) to make a transaction with Bell and Co. We (not to have) any business relations with them before.
   
3. 
   "Why you (can, not to go) to the theatre with me now?" "Well, you see, I (not finish) my work yet".
   
4. 
   "Why you (not to go) to the manufacturing plant yesterday after­noon?" "I (can, not to go) this because we (not to complete) the talks by that time".
   

1. 
   We ... to go to the plant with Mr Brown this Monday, but he hasn't arrived in Kyiv yet. We ... to go to the plant next week.
   
2. 
   There is no stop near this building, you ... to get off at the next stop.
   
3. 
   These things are not duty-free. You ... to pay for them.
   
4. 
   If you don't leave now, you ... not come to the concert on time.
   
5. 
   When ... the Sellers to deliver the goods?
   
6. 
   We ... to reserve accomodations for Mr. Brown tomorrow.
   
7. 
   As the Buyer ... not provide shipping facilities the Seller... to de­liver the goods on these terms.
   

1.1 People in business