Scalar Chain

SCALAR CHAIN

The scalar chain is a chain of supervisors from the highest to the lowest rank. It should be short-circuited. An employee should feel the necessity to contact his superior through the scalar chain. The authority and responsibility is communicated through this scalar chain. Fayol defines scalar chain as "the chain of superiors ranging from the ultimate authority to the lowest rank." The flow of information between management and workers is a must. Business opportunities must be immediately avoided of. So we must make direct contact with the concerned employee. Business problems need immediate solution, so we cannot always depend on the established scalar chain. It requires that direct contact should be established.

It refers to a formal line of authority which moves from highest to the lowest ranks in a straight line. This chain must be followed in a strict manner. Fayol has explained this principle with the help of a ladder. For example, in a company the employee ‘F’ wants to have contact with the employee ‘P’. According to the principle of scalar chain ‘F’ shall have to reach ‘A’ through the medium of E,D,C,B and then having contact with L,M,N,0 shall reach ‘P’. Thus ‘F’ shall have to take the help of all the nine steps (posts) to have business contact with ‘P’.

In many organizations, the scalar chain principle is still very much alive. However, some have argued that modern management demands new approaches. It has been argued that with ever increasing size of globally acting companies the scalar chain is increasing in length, thus increasing the cost of coordination.

With the changing environment, globally operating companies find themselves exposed to in the twenty-first century; some adopt structures that emphasize flexibility and quick response to change. Many organizations attempt to place decision-making authority in the organizational structure with those who can most effectively and efficiently respond to environmental demands.