Meaning & Importance of Supervision

1 Mark Questions

1. Define supervision. (All India 2012, 2008)

Ans. Supervision means instructing, guiding and monitoring the subordinates to ensure that they perform their jobs in accordance with the plans and instructions.

1. How does a supervisor act as a linking pin between management and the operatives? (All India 2009; Delhi 2008)

Ans. A supervisor acts as a link between management and operatives as he conveys management ideas to the workers, on one hand and workers' problems to the management, on the other.

1. Why is supervision important? (Delhi 2008C)

Ans. Supervision is important because it helps in optimum utilisation of resources.

3 Mark Questions

1. Explain any three functions performed by a supervisor that are vital to any organisation. (All India 2014)

Ans. Functions of a supervisor are as follows:

1. Acts as a link between workers and management Supervisor conveys

management policies and ideas to the workers on one hand and workers' problem to the management on the other. He plays a crucial role of avoiding misunderstanding and conflicts between management and workers

Supervisor Policies Management -Problems- Workers

1. Maintains group unity Supervisor directly overlooks the workers and this is a key

link in maintaining harmony and unity among workers by sorting out their internal

differences.

1. Ensures performance of work He takes the responsibility for task achievement according to the targets and motivates his workers effectively.
2. The performance of an organisation depends upon how a supervisor instructs and guides the subordinates at operative level. Explain. (HOTS; Delhi 2009c; All India 2009)

Ans. Supervisor maintains day-to-day contact with workers. He is the link between workers and management. His role is to monitor and instruct the activities of employees from over and above. Supervision leads to facilitate control and ensures the optimum utilisation of resources. If he fails to perform his functions efficiently, best plans and organisation structure devised by the top management will be rendered useless. Thus, we can say that the performance of an organisation depends on how supervisor instructs and guides the subordinates.

4/5 Mark Questions

1. Describe the importance of supervision in directing function of management. (Delhi 2009C)

Ans. Importance of supervision are as follows:

1. Ensures performance of work The supervisor makes sure that all the instructions are communicated to each and every employee.
2. Optimum utilisation of resources Under supervision, all the activities are closely monitored. In this situation, better utilisation of resources is achieved.
3. Acts as a link between workers and management Supervisor conveys the management's ideas to the workers on one hand and workers problems to the management on the other, thus acting as a linkpin.
4. Plays a leadership role While guiding the employees, the supervisor encourages and motivates the subordinates to perform at the best of their ability, by good leadership.

1. Provides feedback to the workers During supervision, a supervisor is always in

direct contact with his subordinates. As a result, ideas, suggestions, complaints, etc of employees with regard to managerial decisions are continuously received by the supervisor. He also gives feedback to workers on how to improve there work.