Chapter 1- The Supervisor’s Role Flashcards
Define the term management.
The process of directing and controlling people and things so that organizational objectives can be accomplished.
Distinguish between management and supervision.
Management denotes the process of directing and controlling people and things so that organizational objectives can be
accomplished.
Supervision (part of the management process) refers to the act of overseeing people.
Who or what most strongly influences workers’ performance and morale?
Workers’ performance and morale are more strongly
influenced by their immediate superior than by any other factor in their environment.
Where is real authority derived from?
Supervisors are selected by management and derive official authority from that source.
However, real authority stems from the spirit of cooperation, respect, and confidence that they
are able to gain from subordinates.
Supervisors should avoid doing (what) to information they receive ?
Filtering.
It is vital to ensure a supervisor’s superiors receive complete information.
Better to provide too much than too little.
What is best utilized to defeat rumors?
Factual information
What must take precedent over loyalties to employees and management?
The best interests of the organization
What is accomplished in delegating routine tasks to subordinates ?
In delegating routine tasks to subordinates, expert supervisors will give subordinates sufficient authority to match the responsibility they have imposed on their subordinates.
Define coaching.
The practice of confronting an employee with their job performance record with the objective of finding ways to overcome deficiencies and improve job performance.
What was emphasized by the Volcker Commission in The Report of the National Commission on the Public Service?
The importance of understanding informal organizations.
Within most police departments are groups that operate without official authorization. An effective supervisor should be familiar with these groups as well as their leaders because these groups have influence in the department. A successful supervisor is able to deal effectively with both the formal and the
informal organization.
Define counseling.
Counseling relates to the
supervisory practice of actively listening and responding to employees’ complaints, grievances, and problems.
Discuss the types of institutional knowledge a supervisor must possess.
Supervisors should prepare for leadership positions by gaining knowledge and understanding of the policies, rules, procedures, practices, functions, and objectives of the
organization.
Supervisors should also be aware of the relationships between their organization and other agencies and units of government
Additionally, within one’s own organization, supervisors should be aware of informal organizations and groups with influence among workers and other individuals within the organization.
What are the basic supervisory responsibilities?
Discuss how they affect supervisors in obtaining the best performance from their subordinates.
•Planner- Supervisors must be able to forecast future needs, anticipate problems, and make decisions ahead of time to solve them.
•Personnel Officer-Supervisors should assign subordinates to positions for which they are best suited and at times where they are most needed
•Trainer- Supervisors’ ability to train employees, increases their effectiveness and allows them to gain satisfaction from their work.
•Coach- Allows employees to overcome deficiencies and improve job performance, can be an excellent motivational tool.
•Counselor- Allows supervisors to listen to employees complaints, grievances, and problems both in and outside the organization.
•Controller- Every supervisor must make sure that rules and regulations have been followed and orders properly executed. The supervisors must be prepared to take disciplinary action when necessary.
•Decision Maker &
Communicator- Resistance to changes within the organization can be significantly reduced based on a supervisor’s ability to communicate with their subordinates.
•Leader- Supervisors have an inherent responsibility to motivate their subordinates, encouraging them to achieve and maintain a high level of efficiency.
