Which term best describes the principle of maintaining an effective oversight of resources during an incident?

The principle of maintaining effective oversight of resources during an incident is best described by the concept of span of control. Span of control refers to the number of subordinates that a supervisor can effectively manage. In emergency situations, it is crucial to maintain a manageable ratio of personnel under direct supervision to ensure that resources are not only utilized efficiently but also that communication remains clear and decision-making is streamlined.

A proper span of control allows for effective oversight, ensuring that all team members are properly monitored without overwhelming the supervisor, thus enhancing the ability to respond to changing conditions during an incident. By keeping this balance, incident commanders can provide focused guidance and ensure that each resource is accounted for, contributing to overall operational effectiveness.

While delegation, coordination, and management hierarchy all relate to aspects of managing resources and personnel, they don't encapsulate the specific focus on the number of individuals or units one can directly oversee, which is central to the idea of span of control.