The Organizational Structure of an Agency

The chain of command in an agency is known as the organizational structure. A chain of command is essential in providing effective management, accountability and stability within an agency.

President

The president or owner of an agency is situated at the top of the organizational structure. He is involved in operations and major decisions pertaining to the agency, but may have minimal contact with workers in the middle and bottom portions of the organizational structure.

Directors

Some agencies appoint directors to oversee specific departments, such as marketing directors or financial directors. These individuals are positioned beneath the president/owner and manage the employees beneath them.

Managers

In multilevel agencies, managers are situated beneath directors. Managers have supervisory duties, as well as some limited leadership functions.

Supervisors

Supervisors have more direct and regular contact with line workers than managers or directors. They manage the daily functions of the office, such as processing time cards, making work schedules, handling conflict resolution and disseminating information to workers.

Workers

The main workers and producers of an agency may have several names, such as representatives, specialists or analysts. They are at the bottom of the organizational structure.

References

• All Business: The Importance of the Chain of Command