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flat 
organisations
(with fewer management levels, and wider spans of control) as a result of technological 
changes and the granting of more decision-making power to front-line employees.
The span of control concept has implications for the length of the 
scalar chain 

The
 scalar chain 
is the chain of command from the most senior to the most junior. 

A 
tall organisation 
is one which, in relation to its size, has a large number of levels of 
management hierarchy. This implies a 
narrow
span of control. 

A 
flat organisation 
is one which, in relation to its size, has a small number of hierarchical levels. 
This implies a 
wide
span of control. 
The advantages and disadvantages of these organisational forms can be summarised as follows. 
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CHAPTER 5
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BUSINESS ORGANISATION, STRUCTURE AND STRATEGY 
 
137 
Tall organisation 
For 
Against 
Narrow control spans 
Inhibits delegation 
Small groups enable team members to participate 
in decisions 
Rigid supervision can be imposed, blocking 
initiative 
A large number of steps on the promotional 
ladders – assists management training and career 
planning 
The same work passes through too many hands 
Increases administration and overhead costs
Slow decision making and responses, as the 
strategic apex is further away 
Flat organisation 
For 
Against 
More opportunity for delegation 
Requires that jobs 
can
be delegated. Managers 
may only get a superficial idea of what goes on. If 
they are overworked they are more likely to be 
involved in crisis management 
Relatively cheap 
Sacrifices control 
In theory, speeds up communication between 
strategic apex and operating core 
Middle managers are often necessary to convert 
the grand vision of the strategic apex into 
operational terms 
2.14 Delayering 
Delayering
is the reduction of the number of management levels from bottom to top. 
Many organisations are delayering. Middle-line jobs are vanishing. Organisations are increasing the 
average span of control, reducing management levels and becoming flatter.
(a)