HCM 433 MANGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOUR.pdf

no authority over staff in other departments – this is the responsibility of the line manager. But, as
the position and role of the personnel manager would have been sanctioned by top management,
other staff might be expected to accept the advice which is given.
The personnel manager, however, could be assigned some direct, executive authority for certain
specified responsibilities such as, for example, health and safety matters throughout the whole
organisation. Note, however, that specialist in a functional relationship with other managers still
have a line relationship with both their own superior and their own departmental subordinate staff.
(iii) Staff Relationships
Staff relationships arise from the appointment of personal assistants to senior members of staff.
Persons in a staff position normally have little or no direct authority in their own right but act as
an extension of their superior and exercise only ‘representative’ authority. They often act in a
‘gatekeeper’ role. There is no direct relationship between the personal assistant and other staff
except where delegated authority and responsibility have been given for some specific activity.
In practice, however, personal assistants often do have some influence over other staff, especially
those in the same department or grouping. This may be partially because of the close relationship
between the personal assistant and the superior, and partially dependent upon the knowledge and
experience of the assistant, and the strength of the assistant’s own personality.
(iv) Lateral Relationships
Lateral relationships exist between individuals in different departments or sections, especially
individuals on the same level. these lateral relationships are based on contact and consultation and
are necessary to maintain coordination and effective organisational performance.
Lateral relationships may be specified formally, but in practice, they depend upon the cooperation
of staff and in effect are a type of informal relationship.
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
Mention and explain different forms of relationship in organization.
3.5 TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
1. Line and Staff Organisation
An area of management which causes particular difficulty is the concept of line and staff. As
organisations develop in size and work becomes more complex, the range of activities and
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