7.1.6—Line and staff

Line functions are directly involved in the main operating or revenue-generating activity; staff functions provide specialist advice or support such as HR, finance or legal expertise.

Staff advice can improve decisions, while line managers know operational realities. Conflict can arise when roles, authority or accountability are unclear.

A finance team can advise on investment risk, but an operations manager understands whether the proposed change can work on the shop floor.

A staff function is not unimportant and may have formal authority in its specialist domain; labels do not replace role definitions.