MEANING OF SUPERVISION

Supervision is an important element of directing function of management. Managers at all levels perform the supervisory function. It is not the responsibility of first line supervisors only. At the top level of an organisation, the proportion of direct supervision is comparatively less than at middle and operating levels level managers supervise the work of departmental heads who in turn supervise operating executives. At each level, supervision is required to translate plans and programmes into action. At the lowest level managers have the primary duty for supervision and, therefore, they are known as supervisors
Supervision means overseeing the subordinates at work to ensure that they are working according to plans and policies of the organisation. It involves direct face-to-face contact between the supervisor and his subordinates. The aim of supervision is to ensure that subordinates work efficiently and effectively to accomplish the organisational objectives. It involves inter-personal relationship in day-to-day work. A supervisor is known by different names, e.g., foreman, overseer, superintendent, section officer, etc He constitutes the lowest rung of the management ladder and is in charge of workers. But the first-line supervisor occupies a strategic position in the hierarchy of an organisation. Supervisor is the vital link between workers and management. He is representative of management and a key figure from the viewpoint of workers. He is directly responsible for issuing orders and instructions, laying down work methods and procedures and initiating action. He gets the managerial plans translated into action, spots deviations from plans and takes the necessary corrective action. He is primarily responsible for the successful performance of work on the operating level. The position of a supervisor is very critical. He is known as the 'man in the middle' because he represents both management and workers