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Learn what span of control means in the Incident Command System (ICS) and how to determine the optimal ratio of supervisors to subordinates. Find out how to adjust the span of control based on the type, nature, and hazards of the incident.
- ICS Feature: Manageable Span of Control
ICS Feature: Manageable Span of Control. Manageable span of...
- ICS Principle: Manageable Span of Control
ICS Principle: Manageable Span of Control. “Span of control”...
- ICS Feature: Manageable Span of Control
Learn how to effectively manage, supervise, and control your subordinates and resources in incident management. The optimal span of control is three to seven subordinates, and the ICS modular organization can be adjusted to maintain it.
Manageable Span of Control. NIMS 2008 states that “in ICS, the span of control of any individual with incident management supervisory responsibility should range from 3 to 7 subordinates, with 5 being optimal. During a large-scale law enforcement operation, 8 to 10 subordinates may be optimal.“.
ICS Principle: Manageable Span of Control. “Span of control” refers to the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage effectively during an incident. Experience has shown that an effective span of control for a supervisor in an incident is three to seven people.
Manageable Span of Control. Depending on your role within the Incident Command System (ICS) structure, you may be asked to manage the activities of others. The span of control refers to the number of individuals or resources that one supervisor can manage effectively during an incident.
Management studies have shown that the span of control for a supervisor falls within a range of three (3) to seven (7), depending upon the skills of the supervisor and the complexity of the task being overseen.
To maintain a manageable span of control, the initial responding Incident Commander (IC) may determine it necessary to delegate functional management to one or more Section Chiefs. The Section Chiefs may further delegate management authority for their areas, as required.
