Span of Control Calculator

Have you ever wondered how a manager keeps track of more than twenty employees? Or in some cases, how a manager ends up overseeing just three people and spending most of their time waiting for something to do?

Both situations raise questions about their span of control - the number of direct reports a manager supervises.

Span of control is an essential concept in organisational design, offering insight into both how accessible leaders are to employees and how manageable a leader's workload is.

A wide span of control, with too many people reporting to one manager, may lead to employees feeling under supported and disconnected.

On the other hand, a very narrow span of control may lead to managers being underutilised and employees feeling micromanaged.

Take our quick 8-question quiz to gain insight into the optimal span of control for your role.