What Is the Scalar Principle? How the Scalar Chain Works

The scalar principle, also known as the scalar chain, is a management principle predicated on establishing an unbroken line of authority from the highest levels of management on down. In this model, the person at each management level communicates with only those directly above and below them. The system can be circumvented in emergencies and for operational efficiency, when two people at the same level can directly communicate with each other, rather than go through the upper levels that connect them, as long as their supervisors are aware. This exception is called a gangplank.

Henri Fayol, a French mining engineer in the 1800s, identified the scalar principle as one of fourteen principles of management. In a scalar chain, the manager at the highest level has the most decision-making power, and responsibility for decisions decreases as one goes down the chain. Highly centralized organizations employ this management theory to ensure that decision-making power remains in the control of high-ranking officers. Management theorists hold that setting a solid chain of command with as few levels of authority as possible enables better decision-making and well-defined superior-subordinate relationships.

The scalar principle can be visualized in the form of a pyramid. At the top, you have Leader A. On the left side of the pyramid, going down, are managers B, C, D, E, F, and G, each directly below the other in the hierarchy. Down the right side of the pyramid, similarly, are managers L, M, N, O, P, and Q. Communication between the different levels of authority flows in a direct line from Leader A down each side of the pyramid. Information can then travel back up to Leader A in reverse order. If necessary, a gangplank may form between leaders at corresponding levels on opposite sides of the pyramid, so long as their superiors allow it. The gangplank is only allowed for operational efficiency and is not permitted as part of decision-making. For example, leaders at the lowest level might need to communicate to share human resources to accomplish a task.

According to Henri Fayol’s principles of management, the scalar chain benefits organizations in the following ways.

1. 1. Efficient decision-making: In organizations that adopt the scalar principle, higher levels of management maintain decision-making control. This can remove dissent from decision-making processes as all managers know what decisions are within their purview.
2. 2. Clear lines of communication: The scalar chain organizes a group of people into a structured hierarchy with direct lines of communication between the different levels of management. This allows employees access to their immediate supervisor, who can run information up the chain of command if necessary.
3. 3. Well-defined relationships: The scalar principle creates a linear delegation of authority in which relationships between managers and their subordinates are clearly defined. There’s no confusion as to who’s in charge.

Highly centralized organizational structures have some potential drawbacks. Here are some potentially harmful side effects of the scalar principle that are worth considering.

1. 1. Lower levels of management may feel isolated: Following the principle of scalar chain, top management is only accessible through a linear chain of command. This can potentially limit an employee’s ability to consult higher levels of authority within the organization, leaving them feeling as if their hands are tied in decision-making.
2. 2. Potential for miscommunication: In the model, if one person in the hierarchy does not communicate information accurately, everyone who receives it after them will suffer.
3. 3. No diagonal communication: The gangplank is meant to connect two people at the same level of hierarchy to communicate if needed, but this rigid structure does not allow two people at different levels to work together easily. For example, if a lower-level engineering manager needs to collaborate with a higher-level marketing manager on a decision, they will have to go through a superior, which can create roadblocks in an emergency.

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