What is the term that describes the number of people a supervisor can oversee at one time?

The term that describes the number of people a supervisor can oversee at one time is "Span of Control." This concept is fundamental in management and leadership, particularly in emergency services and firefighting, as it relates to how effectively a supervisor can manage their team. A proper span of control ensures that each supervisor can adequately oversee, support, and communicate with their subordinates.

When the span of control is optimal, it helps to maintain clear lines of communication, efficient decision-making, and effective task delegation. If a supervisor's span of control is too broad, it might lead to challenges such as diminished oversight and a lack of support for team members, which can affect overall effectiveness during operations. Conversely, if the span of control is too narrow, it may result in unnecessary layers of management and inefficiencies.

Chain of Command refers to the hierarchy of authority within an organization but does not pertain directly to how many individuals a supervisor can effectively manage. Unit Management and Personnel Management are broader concepts that involve various aspects of managing groups or individuals but do not specifically address the capacity of supervision related to the number of direct reports.