(4) delegation of authority. We’ll discuss each of them
in the following paragraphs:
1. Unity of command requires the following
practices: (1) a person reports directly to, and receives
orders from, one superior; (2) one person must have
control over one segment of the organization, and he
alone must issue all orders to, and receive all reports
from, that segment; and (3) all personnel in the
engineering department must know whom they direct
and to whom they report.
To accomplish unity of command within the
department, the chain of command has to be definite,
clear-cut, understood, and obeyed by all. When the
chain of command is ignored, either from the top down
or from the bottom up, the result is confusion and
conflict.
Departments are organized into divisions, where
practical. Those divisions are assigned battle stations as
units under their own officers and petty officers.
OPNAVINST 3120.32B lists the standard letter and
numeral designation of divisions of all types of ships.
When it is necessary to establish a division not listed or
when functions of two or more divisions are combined
as a single division, the TYCOM assigns a suitable
letter or numeral that conforms as nearly as possible to
designations already assigned. We’ll discuss
engineering department divisions later in this chapter.
The engineer officer must make every effort to
indoctrinate his division officers so they are made
aware of the importance of maintaining the chain of
command.
2. Homogeneity of assignment requires the
following practices: (1) each division in the department
is assigned closely related tasks, (2) each unit under a
division is assigned specific functions to perform, (3)
individuals are assigned to divisions according to their
abilities, and (4) individuals are not assigned to direct
unrelated groups unless it is unavoidable.
3. Span of control requires the following practices:
(1) the type of work to be done and the degree of
complexity and responsibility involved, (2) the number
of personnel supervised by one person, (3) the area
involved in the supervision, (4) the time available, and
(5) the way in which the supervisor should use the time.
4. Delegation of authority should be
commensurate with assigned responsibility to the
lowest level of competence within the department.
Delegation does not relieve an officer of responsibility
and accountability for the actions of the person to whom
he delegates authority.
The TYCOM (or higher authority) establishes the
requirements for organization. He issues organization
charts and functional guides that encourage the use of
the best techniques known for the operation of the
engineering department and the administration of
assigned personnel. The process of organization has
two aspects–the mechanical, which deals with
organization structure; and the dynamic, which deals
with the integration of the human factors into the
organization structure. While higher authority is
responsible for the mechanics of the organization, the
engineer officer is responsible for effective
administration.
THE ENGINEER OFFICER
The engineer officer is the head of the engineering
department and is responsible to the CO in all matters
pertaining to his department. All personnel in the
engineering department are subordinate to the engineer
officer. In addition to the general duties that apply to all
heads of departments in naval ships, the engineer officer
has certain duties peculiar to the head of the engineering
department. The general and specific duties,
responsibilities, and authority of the engineer officer
and his assistants are prescribed in OPNAVINST
3120.32B and discussed briefly in the following pages.
General Duties
The engineer officer will normally report to and
confer with the XO for the administration of the
engineering department. However, he may confer
directly with the CO in any matter relating to the
engineering department whenever he believes such
action is necessary. But, he must keep the XO informed
of such matters.
The engineer officer must keep the CO informed of
the operational readiness and actual operation of the
main propulsion and electrical plants and of the damage
control organization and systems. The CO must
approve the disabling of any machinery or equipment in
the engineering department if such action will adversely
affect the safety or operation of the ship. When such
disablement will adversely affect the ship’s ability to
accomplish its mission, the TYCOM or fleet
commander (as appropriate) also must approve. During
the ship’s operating periods, the disablement of major
items of machinery to perform routine maintenance
should be kept to a minimum.
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