Which organizational form includes both line and staff positions?

• A. Line Organization
• B. Functional Departmentalization
• C. Line-and-Staff Organization
• D. Geographic Departmentalization

Answer: (C)

Line-and-staff organizations combine two kinds of roles: line positions that carry the direct authority to run operations and make core decisions, and staff positions that provide specialized expertise and advisory support to help those line managers plan, coordinate, and control activities. The line chain of command stays intact for delivering products or services, while staff units—such as human resources, legal, finance, IT, and accounting—offer technical knowledge and services without directly commanding line workers. This setup lets the organization benefit from expert guidance while preserving clear authority and accountability in the hands of line managers. Other structures emphasize either the direct command flow or grouping by function or geography, and they do not inherently pair line authority with dedicated advisory staff in the same integrated way.