What is the preferable ratio of supervisors to subordinates?

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Multiple Choice

What is the preferable ratio of supervisors to subordinates?

Explanation:
Span of control describes how many direct reports a supervisor can effectively oversee. In practice, one supervisor can manage about six subordinates well, which lets the supervisor give timely feedback, monitor work, delegate tasks, and keep lines of communication clear without getting bogged down in micromanagement. If the number of reports is much higher, supervision becomes less effective and important details may be missed. If it’s much lower, you spend more on supervision than is efficient. So the choice that represents six subordinates per supervisor—often written as 6:1—best fits this balanced, practical range.

Span of control describes how many direct reports a supervisor can effectively oversee. In practice, one supervisor can manage about six subordinates well, which lets the supervisor give timely feedback, monitor work, delegate tasks, and keep lines of communication clear without getting bogged down in micromanagement. If the number of reports is much higher, supervision becomes less effective and important details may be missed. If it’s much lower, you spend more on supervision than is efficient. So the choice that represents six subordinates per supervisor—often written as 6:1—best fits this balanced, practical range.

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