West Coast EMT Block One Exam

What should a supervisor do if they have more than seven people reporting to them?

1. Has exceeded an effective span of control and should divide tasks and delegate the supervision of some tasks to another person.

2. Is more beneficial to the overall effort than a supervisor with fewer personnel.

3. Should assign a specific task to each person reporting and regularly follow up.

4. Should regularly report to the incident commander regarding his or her team's functions.

The correct answer is: Has exceeded an effective span of control and should divide tasks and delegate the supervision of some tasks to another person.

The correct answer emphasizes the concept of "span of control," which refers to the number of individuals a supervisor can effectively manage. If a supervisor has more than seven people reporting to them, it indicates that they have exceeded an effective span of control. When the number of direct reports increases beyond a manageable limit, the supervisor's ability to effectively monitor performance, communicate, and provide support diminishes. In this scenario, dividing tasks and delegating the supervision of some of those tasks to another capable individual becomes necessary to ensure that each team member receives adequate attention and that tasks are carried out efficiently. This approach enhances operational effectiveness and allows the supervisor to focus on strategic oversight and leadership, leading to better outcomes for the team and the organization. Other choices may provide suggestions for specific actions or reporting mechanisms but do not address the primary issue of maintaining effective supervisory oversight.