Line management is a business term to describe the administration of activities that contribute directly to the output of products or services. In a corporate hierarchy, a line manager holds authority in a vertical (chain of command), and/or over a particular product line. He or she is charged with meeting corporate objectives in a specific functional area or line of business.
As an example, one type of line management at an automobile conglomerate might be the "light truck division", or even more specifically, the "light truck marketing line". Similarly, one type of line management at a financial services firm might be "retention marketing" or "state municipal bond funds".
Other responsibilities
The line management function will often cross into other functions vital to the success of a business such as human resources, finance, and risk management. Indeed, at corporations, responsibility for risk management is vested with line management. Human resources obligations are also increasingly being assigned or "devolved" to line managers.
Line management is also responsible for adopting (with the support of senior management) any type of organizational culture change.
Line managers are responsible for key functions in an organization such as employee empowerment, training and development, motivation, organizational development, team building, mentoring, etc. Line managers help people accomplish organizational goals and objectives.