When one exceeds the span of control in a department, it is almost inevitable to have:

• A. over-disciplined work
• B. undisciplined work
• C. delineation of responsibility
• D. over-specialization

Answer: (B)

When the number of direct reports is more than a supervisor can effectively handle, supervision becomes thin and guidance, consistency, and timely feedback suffer. With this stretched span of control, instructions may be unclear, standards hard to enforce, and priorities difficult to align across many subordinates. That gap in oversight tends to produce undisciplined work, as employees lack the steady direction and accountability they need to stay aligned with procedures and expectations.

The other outcomes don’t fit as naturally. Excessive discipline would come from tighter control, not an overwhelmed supervisor. Clear delineation of responsibility isn’t the inevitable result of a wide span and may even blur when supervision is weak. Over-specialization stems from job design choices that focus on narrow tasks, not from having too many subordinates to supervise.