Exploring managers' views on span of control: more than a headcount

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Leadership Studies

Background:

• Front-line managers (FLMs) play a crucial role in academic healthcare organizations.
• Understanding their perceptions of span of control (SOC) is vital for operational efficiency.
• Previous research indicates a link between FLM SOC and performance outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore FLMs' perceptions of their span of control (SOC).
• To understand how FLMs manage their SOC in academic healthcare settings.
• To identify factors influencing FLM role overload and coping mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing 10 manager focus groups via teleconference.
• Involved 48 managers from 14 academic healthcare organizations.
• Thematic analysis identified perceptions of SOC size, complexity, needed supports, leadership style changes, and coping strategies.

Main Results:

• Participants identified system demands as a major contributor to work responsibilities and role overload.
• Approximately 50% of managers found their SOC unreasonable and lacked adequate support.
• Even managers with reasonable SOC reported workload pressures impacting leadership style and causing overload.

Conclusions:

• Organizational strategies should facilitate dialogue with FLMs regarding SOC size and complexity.
• Providing adequate resource supports is essential for FLMs to effectively manage their SOC.
• Addressing workload pressures and ensuring appropriate SOC are key to mitigating role overload and supporting effective leadership.