Staff functions

The development of new products for new markets (e.g., electronic chemicals for a fine-chemical company thus far dealing only with life sciences) is the task of corporate development. The latter is a staff function reporting to the CEO. It deals with activities outside the authority of the operating divisions. Apart from new products for new markets, it also looks after joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures. 

That S/LP/S matters are line responsibilities that cannot be delegated to staff functions. 

The possible applications of the method, especially in the field of staff functions outside the agreed scale or those in top positions, go considerably beyond conventional job evaluation procedures. 

Oystein Michelsen, Exec. VP-Exploration Prod., Norway Helga Nes, Exec. VP-Staff Functions Corp. Svcs. 

The challenge that faces chemical researchers, development chemists and engineers, manufacturing chemists and engineers and the staff functional professionals associated with chemical processes is formidible. It is one that requires more and better information about chemical processes to meet today s regulatory demands and both public and private expectations for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Organized and systematic chemical process hazard reviews are necessary to meet these demands. 

Harnessing this power of the computer to his sales vehicle will enable the plastics sales executive to grasp the concept of his business as a completely integrated system—one which encompasses the contributions of all the individual salesman, the organization, his services, his staff functions, and the customer—toward the common goals of each—fair and reasonable profits. 

At this point it may be prudent to review the position of use research and technical service in the organization as a whole to keep the major functions in industry in proper perspective Even in these days of long-established staff functions and elaborate staff organizations, there are still only two essential operating functions namely, production and sales Everything else, research in all forms not excepted, exists for the purpose of support for these two line functions Use research and technical service centered in the Industry Group are only means to an end, not an end in themselves. 

This staff function will be increasingly important to the profitability and growth of the organic chemical business. Let us look at its major responsibilities and duties ... 

Radiation Safety or Radiological Control Office. The industrial hygienist (IH) or chemical hygiene officer (CHO) is concerned with the overall safety and comfort of the laboratory workforce. The radiation safety officer (RSO) is concerned more specifically with radioactive materials. The IH/CHO and RSO staffs function under different laws and regulatory agencies, but have parallel responsibilities that organizationally may be either combined or separate. 

Systematic faculty and staff development programs should incorporate attention to diversity and inclusion issues that are relevant to the specific faculty or staff functions (Chism 8c Whitney, 2005). At Alliant, the university s articulated faculty and staff competencies (see Table 16.2) provide a framework for ongoing professional development. 

The function of all safety departments and personnel should be to guide, educate, train, and motivate all levels of management, workers, and unions in the techniques of accident and disease prevention, and to advise and coordinate the safety system (GETMAC). This should be a staff function and not a line function (see Figure 5.1). All employees have some safety responsibility, but management, senior and line, has ultimate safety authority, and therefore is ultimately accountable. The safety department cannot, and should not, be held accountable for the safety performance of an organization. This has been stated by a number of safety authors, yet safety departments traditionally drift back to managing the safety of others. 

Safety coordinators are the catalysts in the safety system and should function as such. Safety coordinators should not be in a line function, but rather in an advisory capacity in a staff function. In many successful companies the safety director is on an executive level and reports directly to the CEO. 

Staff functions typically operate in a supportive role by offering advice to the Une personnel. The line can accept or reject the advice based on the rationale provided, because the line has the true authority. There are often exceptions to this relationship, but this is how most companies operate. Safety usually emanates primarily from a staff... 

However, they shall also communicate and coordinate with some other personnel in the organisation who will neither be superior or junior to them. These could be from the R D, logistics, quality control, stores, and purchase departments. This can be defined as staff function for the smooth working of the organisation. 

Shaded areas are typically "staff" functions. Unshaded areas are "line" functions. 

It is essential that the safety function be implemented as a line responsibiUty. The safety organizational element within the company is a staff function that provides advice and assistance to the line in their efforts to comply with all established safety requirements in daily operations of the organization. Safety, as a task, must clearly be the function of the line (managers or supervisors), or safety will not succeed. 

Evaluate senior leader commitment by determining time and resources allocated to hazard control efforts. Determine which policies and procedures enhanced hazard control effectiveness. Conduct evaluations to determine how well interfacing staff functions support hazard control efforts and accident prevention initiatives. Review submitted cost-benefit analysis reports to determine accuracy... 

Line functions and staff functions within the organisation have to be clearly identified. Line is associated with process flow. Line functions have direct responsibility and have the authority and power for realising the mission of the company. Knowledge of reporting lines is useful. Staff supplies information, materials and advices to the line . Staff functions are e.g. counselling on human resources, on procedures, on analytical methods and on systems, on managing a science based service department handling medical information, complaints and recall. A QP or hospital pharmacist may have both line and staffs function(s). 

Middle managers are fewer and the influence of their decisions and actions extends over the lower level as well as their own. They are charged with ensuring that business objectives are met, so the ways in which they do this can introduce systematic faults into the ways in which junior managers and staff function. 

The principal function was to advise the commander in chief (AFHQ and theater commander) and his stafiF on chemical matters. This was a standard special staff function which involved, for the CWS, gas warfare planning and any other matters which might require theater supervision. In the absence of gas warfare, performance under this function became a routine matter of concurring or advising on theater personnel, operation, and supply. 

In this situation it is not strange that not only did an autonomous CWS develop in the Mediterranean area but also that each element of it developed its own independence. Such independence was encouraged by Shadle who believed In the importance of his staff function and preferred to give strong field elements their head. The organizational situation was, in turn, excellent seed ground for the development of two chemical supply systems, one oriented toward impetus from the front and the other toward impetus from the rear. 

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