Class 12 Business Studies Lesson 9

Meaning and concept of supervision:

Supervisor is a person in the first line management who monitors and regulates workers in their performance of assigned and delegated tasks. 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’s job is to guide the group towards its goals, see that all members of the team work properly and resolve the problems. 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. Thus, supervision means overseeing 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 plays 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 plays a role of manager. He/She manages works. He/She provides right works to right workers. He/She handles workers’ problems.

3. Leader: A supervisor acts as a leader. He/She leads and guides workers. He/She influences workers to work and motivates them to attain organizational goals.

4. Mediator: A supervisor plays the role of mediator. He/She works as connecting link between management and workers. He/She acts as spokesperson of both management and workers.

5. Inspector: A supervisor plays the role of inspector. He/She inspects the performance of workers. He/She provides regular guidance and compares actual performance with standards to find out deviations.

6. Counsellor: A supervisor plays the role of counsellor. He/She provides counseling to workers, builds good labour relations and maintains environment of cooperation.

Functions of supervisor:

1. Planning: Planning and organizing are the basic functions of supervisor. He/She has to plan the daily work schedule and divide the work among 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/She 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 workers to perform their best. He/She also guides the workers by fixing production goals.

4. Motivating: A supervisor motivates subordinates by providing financial and non-financial incentives. He/She inspires them for higher quality and productivity.

5. Controlling: Controlling involves comparing actual performance with standards, finding out deviation and taking corrective action if required. If there is big deviation between actual performance and standard, supervisor has to report to top management.

6. Connecting link: A supervisor is a link between management and workers. He/She communicates the policies of organization to workers and also passes problems, complaints, suggestions etc. to the management.

7. Reporting: A supervisor prepares statements on costs, output performance, quality etc. and reports to the management. Management takes proper steps with the help of such reports. Thus, reporting role of supervisor is very crucial.

Factors affecting supervision:

1. Managerial skills: Managerial skills are essential for effective supervision. Managerial skill consists of planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, communicating, motivating etc. In the absence of these skills, a supervisor cannot perform duties effectively.

2. Technical skills: A supervisor should have technical skills. In the lack of technical skills, a supervisor cannot supervise properly or provide effective guidance. Sufficient technical skills increase supervision ability.

3. Human relation: A supervisor must create sound human relations in the organization which is very essential for effective supervision. He/She must work from employees-centered approach rather than work-centered approach. Good human relations always bring good results.

4. Relief from non-supervisory duties: A supervisor must be free from all non-supervisory duties. He/She should be given only supervisory and related duties like submission of reports, preparation of income statements etc. Otherwise, supervision cannot be effective.

5. Knowledge of plans and policies: Each activity of the organization should be performed according to its plans and policies. Thus, supervisor should have knowledge of plans and policies. In their absence, he/she cannot guide and inspire workers for better performance.

6. Working environment: Working environment also affects supervision. It should be worker-friendly with sufficient space, ventilation, lighting, water facility etc. Quality of working life is essential.

Important Questions:

1. What is supervision? Explain the functions of a good supervisor.

2. What do you understand by supervision? Explain the factors affecting supervision.

3. Describe the role of supervisor.