- A.The number of direct reports a manager can effectively supervise — narrow span (3-5) for complex work; wide span (15-20) for routine work. ✓
- B.Applying SWOT inside an organization to assess internal capabilities — culture, talent, processes, technology, leadership — that constrain or enable strategy.
- C.Herzberg distinguished hygiene factors (cause dissatisfaction if absent) from motivators (cause satisfaction if present) — the two operate independently.
- D.The number of direct reports a manager can effectively supervise — narrow span (3-5) for complex work; wide span (15-20) for routine work.
Span of Control is the number of direct reports a manager can effectively supervise — narrow span (3-5) for complex work; wide span (15-20) for routine work. The other options describe related but distinct concepts in Management & Organization — see the deep-dive guide for the full distinction.
How to think about questions like this
Determines hierarchy depth, cost, and decision speed. Questions like this test whether you can distinguish Span of Control from neighboring concepts. The most common trap is choosing a closely-related concept that sounds similar but applies in a different context.
When you see a definition question on an exam, do two things: (1) translate the question into your own words, then (2) generate the answer in your own words before reading the options. This avoids the cognitive bias of recognizing a familiar phrase as correct just because it is familiar.