Line management

Line management refers to the management of employees who are directly involved in the production or delivery of products, goods and/or services. As the interface between an organisation and its front-line workforce, line management represents the lowest level of management within an organisational hierarchy (as distinct from top/executive/senior management and middle management).^[1]

A line manager is an employee who directly manages other employees and day-to-day operations while reporting to a higher-ranking manager. In some retail businesses, they may have titles such as head cashier or department supervisor.^[2][3][4][5] Related job titles are supervisor, section leader, foreperson, office manager and team leader.^[1] They are charged with directing employees and controlling that the corporate objectives in a specific functional area or line of business are met.^[1]

Despite the name, line managers are usually considered as part of the organization's workforce and not part of its management class.

Responsibilities

Line managers are tasked with implementing organizational policies through direct supervision of staff and ensuring alignment with business objectives and core values.

Key responsibilities include:

• Recruitment and selection
• Training, mentoring, coaching and staff development
• Performance management and appraisal
• Employee motivation and well-being
• Team building and achievement of departmental goals

Typical duties may involve:

• Setting and communicating objectives and priorities
• Allocating and managing resources (e.g., staff time, budgets)
• Ensuring compliance with internal policies and legal requirements
• Providing leadership and operational direction
• Conducting regular meetings with team members

Line management also plays a role in facilitating organizational change, often in collaboration with senior management.^[6] Additionally, line managers are increasingly involved in functions traditionally managed by specialized departments, such as human resources, finance, and risk management. In many organizations, line managers are directly responsible for operational risk and the implementation of HR policies.^[7][8][9]

See also

• Staff management
• Project management
• Performance management
• Staff and line
• Employee engagement
• Management by objectives
• Operations management