Scalar Structure and Line/Staff Functions in Organizations

Assigns rank in a hierarchy of authority that is similar to a pyramid

Provide services directly to external customers based on the organization's mission statement and goals.

Provide services to the line units (internal customers) based on the objectives established to attain the organization's goals.

Instruction that emphasizes job-specific learning objectives and traditional skills-based teaching.

Instruction that emphasizes knowledge-based learning objectives that are not tied to a specific job.

Result of tests or assessments that are given to personnel to determine their abilities to apply knowledge and skills in various situations.

1. Provide leadership 2. Act as role model 3. Give advice 4. Provide representation for members to administration. 5. Negotiate Conflict 6. Apply counseling or coaching when necessary

Expected to execute the orders of superior officers. This may not be popular. (Never question or publicly criticize policies or orders that they believe to be unfair; this action may provide a negative example for both subordinates and peers).

1. Issuing burning permits 2. inspecting facilities 3. Providing public fire and live-safety education 4. Investigating suspicious fires 5. Providing emergency care to victims of hazardous incidents

1. Leadership 2. Ethics 3. Supervision 4. Responsibility 5. Authority

Unless the officer establishes an understanding regarding the relationship and the enforcement of policy, the unit will suffer.

1. commit to the responsibilities, duties, and requirements of the supervisory position 2. Show loyalty to the organization. 3. Support all types of education and training. 4. Guard Conversations 5. Accept criticism graciously and accept praise, honors, and advancement modestly. 6. Lead by example Praise in public; discipline in private.

Provide a safe environment by adhering to and enforcing safety regulations. Also represent the needs of subordinates to the organization as well as provide: 1. Ethical leadership 2. Fair and just supervision 3. Educational and training opportunities

Administer policies and procedures properly as well as represent the organization to members of the unit and public.

Provide effective and efficient professional service to the public; be conscious of the fact that the public provides the resources to the organizatin and that officers are stewards of those resources.

Serve as visible representatives and role models, like all members of the fire and emergency services. The public and the organization's members judge the profession by the actions of its officers.

Listen to expectations and needs when relying on families for support and understanding; communicate the responsibility, authority, and requirements of the new position.

Live by a set of ethical standards and values that are based on the accepted moral values of the community if they expect their subordinates to live by them; respect themselves and abide by their convictions if they expect the same from others

1. Human resources management 2. Community and government relations 3. Administration 4. Inspection and investigation 5. Emergency service delivery 6. Health and safety

1. Provide effective supervision for both emergency and nonemergency activities. 2. Assign tasks 3. Evaluate personnel performance 4. Provide company-level training activities. 5. Administer policies and procedures efficiently and equitably. 6. Act as a project manager in certain situations. 7. Provide professional development opportunities for members. 8. Assist with personnel transfers, personal benefits (sick, injury, family leave) and labor/management issues (including grievances).

As a visible representative of the governmental authority and the department, the officer must be able to respond to citizen inquiries and complaints in an efficient and courteous manner. The officer must also be able to present public fire and life-safety educational programs for the benefit of members and the community.

The fire officer must administer policies, procedures and orders at the unit level. The officer also observes the application of these documents and recommends changes to them as necessary. The company officer maintains records of unit activities and prepares reports based on these records. The officer may also assist with preparation of the organizations's budget by monitoring the unit's resources and documenting the consumption and cost of providing those resources.

Officers assigned to a fire suppression incident may be responsible for initial fire cause determination or investigation, including: 1. Secure incident scene 2. Preserve evidence 3. Interview witnesses and emergency personnel 4. Notify a fire investigator whe the situation warrants it. 5. Salvage and overhaul 6. Prevention of the destruction of evidence 7. Notify law enforcement 8. Designate the scene as a crime scene 9. Maintain security of the scene until fire investigation personnel arrive.

Duty most often associated with th company officer. 1.May involve initial size-up 2. Establishment of incident command system (ICS) 3. Resource allocation 4. Develop Incident Action Plan (IAP) 5. Post incident analysis; for a single unit, or participates in an analysis under the leadership of a command officer when the situation involves additional resources.

1. Apply health and safety standards daily. 2. Implement safety-related policies and procedures. 3. Moniter personnel to ensure that safety guidelines are followed. 4. Report all situations that involve job-related injuries or fatalities 5. Act as a role model by personally adhering to accepted health and safety practices. 6. Promote programs that address wellness and safety, proper apparatus and equipment maintenance, and safe operations. 7. Promote safe behaviors in both emergency and nonemergency activities.