Middle line
The middle line links senior leadership with the operating core through the managerial hierarchy in Mintzberg’s model. Its managers translate direction into coordinated action, allocate resources, supervise activities and communicate information upwards. The number of layers varies with organisational design. A flatter structure can shorten this chain but may increase managers’ spans of control and coordination demands.
Worked example
A regional manager translates the board’s service priorities into targets for branch managers and reports branch problems upwards. These connecting management responsibilities place the role in the middle line.
Common mistake
Do not classify every support specialist as middle-line management because the person has a senior job title. The defining feature is the role in the line-management chain.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | BT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| ACCA | SBL | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| FIA | FBT | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |