Line and Staff Aspects of HRM

Line and Staff Aspects of HRM

All managers are, in a sense, HR managers, since they all get involved in activities like recruiting, interviewing, selecting, and training. Yet most firms also have a human resource department with its own human resource manager. How do the duties of this HR manager and his or her staff relate to "line" managers' human resource duties? Let's answer this question, starting with a short definition of line versus sfaff authority.

Authority is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders. In management, we usually distinguish between line authority and staff authority.

Line managers are authorized to direct the work of subordinates,they're always someone's boss. In addition, line managers are in charge of accomplishing the organization's basic goals. (Hotel managers and the managers for production and sales are generally line managers, for example. They have direct responsibility for accomplishing the organization's basic goals. They also have the authority to direct the work of their subordinates.) Staff managers, on the other hand, are authorized to assist and advise line managers in accomplishing these basic goals. HR managers are generally staff managers. They are responsible for advising line managers (like those for production and sales) in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation.