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Span of control and the significance for public sector managers’ job demands: A multilevel study

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Wallin

    (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Anders Pousette

    (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Lotta Dellve

    (University of Borås, Sweden; Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to investigate how span of control influences seven job demands common amongst operational public sector managers. Self-administrated surveys were collected from 434 managers organized in 37 municipal operations, i.e. management teams in a set of public organizations in Sweden, and complemented with register data. Multilevel analyses were performed and it was shown unfavorable to have a large number of subordinates for the majority of job demands investigated. Furthermore, managers who were members of management teams with a higher average span of control experience some job demands to an even higher extent. Thus, the results of this study demonstrate that span of control is a key upstream component of managers’ job demands and emphasize the value of a reasonable number of subordinates.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Wallin & Anders Pousette & Lotta Dellve, 2014. "Span of control and the significance for public sector managers’ job demands: A multilevel study," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 35(3), pages 455-481, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:35:y:2014:i:3:p:455-481
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X13488002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Erik Berntson & Annika Härenstam, 2025. "Context matters: The meaning of organizational context in managers’ leadership behavior and subordinates’ perceptions of leadership," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(3), pages 809-829, August.
    2. Gunilla Albinsson & Kerstin Arnesson, 2018. "The managerial position in a Swedish municipal organization: Possibilities and limitations," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 39(3), pages 500-535, August.

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