Which term describes the number of people a person is directly responsible for in a business?

• A. Subordinates
• B. Bonus
• C. Span of control
• D. Organisational chart

Answer: (C)

Span of control is the number of people a manager directly supervises. This figure shows how many subordinates report to that manager, shaping whether an organization is tall (many layers) or flat (fewer layers). Understanding this helps you see how closely a manager can oversee work, how easily they can communicate, and how quickly decisions are made. The term that describes that count is span of control.

Subordinates are the people who report to a manager, not the measure itself. A bonus is a form of payment, not a measurement of supervision. An organisational chart shows who reports to whom and the structure of the business, but it’s the span of control that specifically names how many people a single manager directly oversees.