At XYZ Widget Company, Jill Jones is supervisor of the plant where the Widgets are made and John Jones is the company’s attorney. Jill has __________ authority and John has __________ authority.

Question

a. staff; committee
b. line; staff
c. narrow; broad
d. centralized; decentralized
e. committee; staff

Answer 1

The correct answer is b. line; staff.

In an organizational context, "line authority" refers to the direct authority to make decisions and oversee operations, which Jill, as the plant supervisor, possesses. "Staff authority," on the other hand, refers to the authority to advise and support line authority, which is the role of John as the company’s attorney.