Supervisor is a person in the first line management who monitors and regulates workers in their performance of assigned and delegated task. Supervisor is the lowest and most junior management. It is usually a step above leader but below manager. A supervisor is responsible for day to day performance of a small group in the organization. The supervisor job is to guide the group towards its goals see that all members of the team and resolve the problem . The act of supervisors is known as supervision. The word supervision is derived from latin language where super means from the above and vision means to see. The supervision means overseen the subordinates at work with an aim to correct the employees if they are going wrong.
According to R.C. Davis “Supervision is the function of assuming that the work is being done in accordance with plan and instructions.”
Roles of Supervisor
1. Planner: A supervisor play a role of planner in an organization. He/She has to plan the day to day work schedules. He/she also has to divide the work to workers according to their skills experience and ability.
2. Manager: A supervisor also play a role of manager. He/She manages works. He/she provide right works do right workers. He/she handles workers problems.
3. Leader: A supervisor act as a leader, He/she leads and guide workers .He/she influences workers to work. He/She motivates workers to work as according to role to attain organization goal.
4. Mediator: A supervisor plays the role of mediator. He/she works as collectIng links. He/she connect management and workers. He/she acts as spokesperson of both Management and workers.
5. Inspector: A supervisor play the role of inspector. He/she inspect the performance of workers. He/she provides regular guidance and compare actual performance with standard fo find out deviation.
6. Counsellor: A Supervisor plays the role of counselor. He/she provides counseling to workers. He/she builds good labour relation and maintain environment of cooperation.
Functions of Supervisor
1. Planning: Planning and organizing are the basic function of supervisor. He/she has to plan the daily works schedule and dividing the work among the workers according to their interest, knowledge, skill and capability.
2. Providing quality working condition: A supervisor must provide healthy and hygienic environment to the workers. He should arrange physical resources at right place. Quality of working life is essential for organizational success.
3. Leading: A supervisor is a leader of workers. He/she leads his or her workers to work their best. He/she also guides the workers by fixing production goal.
4. Motivating: A supervisor motivate his/her sub-ordinates by providing financial and non financial incentives. He/she inspire them for higher quality and productivity.
5. Controlling: It is also an important function of supervisor controlling involves comparing actual performance standard, finding out deviation and taking corrective action if required, If there is big deviation between actual performance and standard supervisor has to report top management.
6. Connecting link: A Supervisor is a linking between management and workers. He/she communicates the policies of organization to workers and on the other hand he/she passes the problems, complaint, suggestions etc to the management.
7. Reporting: A superior prepares statements on costs, output performance, quality etc. and reports to the management. Management takes proper step with the help of such reports. Thus, reporting jobs of supervisor is very crucial.
Factor affecting supervising:
1. Managerial Skills: Managerial skills is essential to supervisor to make effective supervision. Managerial skill consists of planning skill, organizing skills, diverting skill, coordinating skills, communicating skills, motivating skills and so on. In the absence of this skill. Thus, supervisor cannot perform his/her duty effectively.
2. Technical skills: Supervisor should have technical skill too. In the lack of technical skill, supervisor cannot supervise properly, guidance effectively and saved technical nature problems. Supervision ability is increased by sufficient technical skills
3. Human relation: A Supervisor creates sound human relation in organization which is very essential for effective supervision. He/she guides the working force, instruct and inspire them for better performances. He must work from the employees centered approach than work centered approach. A good human relation always brings out a good result.
4. Relief from non supervisory duties: A supervisor must be free from all non supervisory duties. He/she must he given only supervisory and related duties like, submission of report preparation of income statement etc. The supervision can’t be effective.
5. Knowledge of plans and policies: Each and every activity of organization should be performed according to its plans and policies. Thus, supervisor Should have the knowledge of plans and policies of organization. In the lack of plan and policy, he/she cannot guide the working force, instruction and inspire them for better performance.
6. Working environment: Working environment also affect supervision, working environment should be worker friendly there should be sufficient space, ventilation, lighting, waker facility etc on the workers. Quality of working life is essential.
Important Questions
- What is supervision. Explain the function of good supervisor.
- What do you understand by supervision. Explain the factors affecting supervision
- Describe the role of Supervisor.
