Why is chain of command important

This also ensures that nurses exercise all the actions in pro of patients. The reason for flexibility is that the most important element to take into account, is always to obtain a quick response or required authorization in the case of emergencies.

In the case of failure in the chain of command, there must be always a second option because as we said, the most important factor is to preserve the life of patients. Skip to content. November 18, March 9, Admin. Table of Contents. You May Also Like. May 4, July 2, Admin. Pin It on Pinterest. In an organizational chain of command, the decision-making power is heavily concentrated at the top and begins to dwindle as you move further down.

Teams may be tasked with unrealistic goals and face other problems like insufficient budgets as a result. Most notably, the chain of command slows down the decision-making process because of the long hierarchical chain along which information and instructions must pass.

A decision that could be made by a lower-level employee relatively quickly—e. The chain of command is generally representative of a time when the world of work was far more mechanical and habitual with less information communication.

Today, organizations are more agile and liberal, jobs are less rigidly defined, and organizations are beginning to promote employee empowerment and autonomy. As with anything, building the right chain of command for your organization is a matter of experimenting until you have something that works for your organization.

Think carefully about the roles that equipped to guide other members of the team and be careful not to overload the chain with too many layers. Looking for a tool to build your chain of command with? Check out our organisational chart builder which can be used to map out your own chain of command hierarchy. What is the Chain of Command? How Does a Chain of Command Work? It Supports All Employees Every employee within an organization, regardless of where they sit on the organizational chart, is at a different point in their career with their unique levels of experience.

It Standardizes Communication In an organizational chain of command, there are usually more standardized methods of communication, which create a more formal internal environment. They may have a lot of individuals and teams reporting to them, and so the chain of command of that organization looks more flat or horizontal. Usually, with these types of hierarchies, some fewer middle managers and employees hold a lot of power and control themselves, particularly over their own work and environments.

You can find a flat chain of command in any kind or size of organization, but it's common for smaller businesses to have this type of hierarchy because there are fewer employees at the organization.

There may be the business owner or founder, followed by a middle manager and then the group of employees. A vertical chain of command has more steps and levels to its hierarchy than a flat chain of command.

Each manager is typically only responsible for managing a few associates, so their level of control is more narrow and usually confined to their department. With a vertical chain of command, you may notice that the company's rules, processes and procedures are more fixed, and they come from the top leaders of the organization who then give other managers the responsibility of disseminating information.

Find jobs. Company reviews. Find salaries. Upload your resume. Sign in. Career Development. What is a chain of command? Traditional chain of command structure. Advantages and disadvantages to a chain of command. Chain of command advantages. Increased efficiency. Clear direction. Structured responsibility.

Outside understanding. Chain of command disadvantages. Less collaboration. Slow communication. Decreased employee empowerment. More competition. What is a flat chain of command?

What is a vertical chain of command? Silo Mentality: Definition, Effects and Prevention.