Citation
The Manager's Span of Control
TL;DR
Effective span of control is limited by cognitive and time constraints
Urwick's influential article established span of control as a central concern in organizational design, arguing that managers can effectively supervise only a limited number of subordinates. This work initiated decades of research on optimal organizational branching ratios.
The article provides historical context for organizational fractal design - managers have long recognized that hierarchical branching must be optimized, even without explicit fractal terminology.
Key Findings from Urwick (1956)
- Effective span of control is limited by cognitive and time constraints
- Span varies by work complexity and manager capability
- Organizations must balance span against hierarchy depth