In a situation where a subordinate is working near other coworkers, a company officer functioning as a supervisor may:

• A. Offer this subordinate minimal supervision
• B. Expand their span of control ratio to 1:7-8
• C. Cross train that subordinate for a supervisory role
• D. Decrease their supervisory output for the entire company

Answer: (A)

When a subordinate is operating in the vicinity of other coworkers, the supervisor can afford to adopt a lighter touch because there is built-in peer oversight and a greater likelihood that safety issues will be noticed and addressed promptly. The presence of nearby coworkers provides a level of collective accountability, allowing the company officer to focus on coordination and higher‑level oversight rather than micromanaging every step. This approach supports efficiency and safety while still keeping the supervisor ready to intervene if needed.

Expanding the span of control to a very large ratio isn’t warranted by this situation, and it would reduce the supervisor’s ability to monitor performance and safety across tasks. Cross-training for a supervisory role isn’t indicated by the scenario itself, and reducing supervisory output for the entire company would undermine leadership and accountability.