Average Span of Control for the HR Function

The span of control—which refers to the number of direct reports a manager has—is a measure that can help organizations evaluate the size of their HR function. Measuring the average span of control for HR can help organizations think more deeply about whether HR has the right amount of management, whether more managers are needed, or whether a reduction in management headcount is appropriate.

In this infographic, APQC reviews cross-industry data on the average span of control for the HR function and discusses some factors that influence the size of spans of control.