Which statement best supports unity of command within a department?

• A. Unity of command is achieved by making every person directly responsible and answerable to the chief
• B. There should be multiple reporting lines to speed decisions
• C. Each employee should report to several supervisors
• D. Authority should be centralized in many units

Answer: (A)

Unity of command means every employee has a single supervisor to whom they report. This creates one clear line of authority, making instructions consistent and accountability straightforward. When each person is directly responsible to the chief, there is no mixing of directions from multiple bosses, so work priorities, performance expectations, and feedback come from one source. That clarity helps avoid confusion, slows conflict, and improves decision-making and supervision.

The statement that best supports this is that every person is directly responsible and answerable to the chief, establishing one clear reporting relationship throughout the department. In contrast, having multiple reporting lines or reporting to several supervisors produces conflicting guidance and diluted accountability, while centralizing authority in many units distributes supervision and undermines a single, coherent command structure.