Line and staff aspects of Human Resource

Management
• All managers have always ,in a sense, human resource managers, because
they are all involved in recruiting, interviewing, selecting, and training their
employees.
• Yet most firms have a human resource department with its own top manager.
• How do the duties of HR manager and department relate to the Human
resource duties of sales and production and other managers?
• Line authority vs staff authority
• Authority is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others and to
give orders.
• Managers distinguish between line authority and staff authority
Line and staff aspects of Human Resource
Management
Line authority traditionally gives managers the right to issue orders to
other managers or employees.
• Line authority therefore creates a superior( order giver)
subordinate( order receiver) relationship.For example: Vice president
sales and sales director.
Staff authority gives a manager the right to advise other managers or
employees.
• It creates a advisory relationship. For eg: HR manager suggesting a
particular selection test to a plant manager.
Line and staff aspects of Human Resource
Management
• On the organization chart, managers with line authority are line
managers. Managers with staff( advisory) authority are staff
managers.
• Line managers manage departments
• Staff managers run departments that are advisory or supportive like
purchase and human resource department.
• Human resource managers are staff managers they assist and advise
line managers in areas like recruiting, hiring and compensation.