1• The Supervisor’s Job
25
• The four basic supervisory functions are planning, organizing, directing (or leading), and controlling. Planning is the setting of objectives and plans for reaching them. Organizing is the dividing of work into manageable units and coordinating the results to achieve the plan. Directing is influencing others to achieve organizational objectives. Controlling is making sure that performance conforms to plans. Supervisors devote more time to directing than to the other management functions.
• A supervisor’s primary responsibilities are to higher management, employees, co-workers, staff departments, and the union or employee association. In order to meet these responsibilities, the supervisor carries out the supervisory functions.
• To handle their jobs effectively, supervisors need the right mix of five key managerial skills. These skills are classified as technical, human, conceptual, diagnostic, and political. Supervisors need more technical skill, but less conceptual skill, than executives and middle managers.
• Today’s supervisory jobs are more challenging than ever because: (a) work is more complex, (b) many employees react negatively to automation, (c) many jobs are difficult to supervise, (d) the work ethic has declined, (e) workers’ expectations have risen, (f) employees have substantial legal power, and (g) employee involvement programs create demands on supervisors.
Questions and Activities
1. In what way has this chapter influenced your attitude toward becoming (or being) a supervisor?
2. Why do you think supervisors are considered to be at the forefront
of productivity improvement?
3. If supervisors have such a tough job, why are they paid a smaller salary
than members of higher management or many professional workers?
4. Explain the difference between a supervisor and a top-level manager.
5. Explain whether or not all supervisors manage production or clerical
workers.
6. Do you think many production workers these days want to become
supervisors? Give the reasons for your answer.
7. Which of the supervisor's responsibilities do you think create the
biggest headache?
1• The Supervisor’s Job
25
• The four basic supervisory functions are planning, organizing, directing (or leading), and controlling. Planning is the setting of objectives and plans for reaching them. Organizing is the dividing of work into manageable units and coordinating the results to achieve the plan. Directing is influencing others to achieve organizational objectives. Controlling is making sure that performance conforms to plans. Supervisors devote more time to directing than to the other management functions.
• A supervisor’s primary responsibilities are to higher management, employees, co-workers, staff departments, and the union or employee association. In order to meet these responsibilities, the supervisor carries out the supervisory functions.
• To handle their jobs effectively, supervisors need the right mix of five key managerial skills. These skills are classified as technical, human, conceptual, diagnostic, and political. Supervisors need more technical skill, but less conceptual skill, than executives and middle managers.
• Today’s supervisory jobs are more challenging than ever because: (a) work is more complex, (b) many employees react negatively to automation, (c) many jobs are difficult to supervise, (d) the work ethic has declined, (e) workers’ expectations have risen, (f) employees have substantial legal power, and (g) employee involvement programs create demands on supervisors.
Questions and Activities
1. In what way has this chapter influenced your attitude toward becoming (or being) a supervisor?
2. Why do you think supervisors are considered to be at the forefront
of productivity improvement?
3. If supervisors have such a tough job, why are they paid a smaller salary
than members of higher management or many professional workers?
4. Explain the difference between a supervisor and a top-level manager.
5. Explain whether or not all supervisors manage production or clerical
workers.
6. Do you think many production workers these days want to become
supervisors? Give the reasons for your answer.
7. Which of the supervisor's responsibilities do you think create the
biggest headache?
1• The Supervisor’s Job
25
• The four basic supervisory functions are planning, organizing, directing (or leading), and controlling. Planning is the setting of objectives and plans for reaching them. Organizing is the dividing of work into manageable units and coordinating the results to achieve the plan. Directing is influencing others to achieve organizational objectives. Controlling is making sure that performance conforms to plans. Supervisors devote more time to directing than to the other management functions.
• A supervisor’s primary responsibilities are to higher management, employees, co-workers, staff departments, and the union or employee association. In order to meet these responsibilities, the supervisor carries out the supervisory functions.
• To handle their jobs effectively, supervisors need the right mix of five key managerial skills. These skills are classified as technical, human, conceptual, diagnostic, and political. Supervisors need more technical skill, but less conceptual skill, than executives and middle managers.
• Today’s supervisory jobs are more challenging than ever because: (a) work is more complex, (b) many employees react negatively to automation, (c) many jobs are difficult to supervise, (d) the work ethic has declined, (e) workers’ expectations have risen, (f) employees have substantial legal power, and (g) employee involvement programs create demands on supervisors.
Questions and Activities
1. In what way has this chapter influenced your attitude toward becoming (or being) a supervisor?
2. Why do you think supervisors are considered to be at the forefront
of productivity improvement?
3. If supervisors have such a tough job, why are they paid a smaller salary
than members of higher management or many professional workers?
4. Explain the difference between a supervisor and a top-level manager.
5. Explain whether or not all supervisors manage production or clerical
workers.
6. Do you think many production workers these days want to become
supervisors? Give the reasons for your answer.
7. Which of the supervisor's responsibilities do you think create the
biggest headache?
