The Supervisor's Functions

The supervisor’s administrative functions can be summarised as follows:

Planning refers to the work which supervisors must do beforehand to determine the procedures related to a task/project.

Control refers to work done by supervisors in evaluating the actual results which are achieved in the work, to see to it that set objectives are achieved.

Induction of employees refers to the planned introduction of newcomers to their new employer, working environment and work.

Training aims at equipping lower-level employees with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to do the work.

Motivation (also known as inspiration) refers to the encouragement and persuasion of lower-level employees to go on to the required action(s).

Communication refers to the transmission and reception of information between people to establish comprehension (understanding).

Leadership refers to the process through which others are influenced to act efficiently to achieve objectives.

Performance evaluation refers to the systematic evaluation of a person’s work performance with an eye on his further development.

Discipline refers to those positive and negative measures which the manager takes to correct lower-level employees’ unsatisfactory behaviour.

Working relations refers to the creation of a climate (condition) in which people can work together in harmony and as a team.

Delegation refers to the deliberate granting of authority to a lower-level employee for the fulfilment of certain responsibilities.

Grievance management refers to the measures taken by the supervisor to identify grievances amongst lower-level employees and to manage such grievance(s) without delay to the person's/people’s satisfaction.

These functions cannot be seen in isolation, as they all complement each other. Some functions are normally undertaken simultaneously, and some functions also serve as a prerequisite when others are considered.