How can supervision in an organisation be made effective?

[Naina#]

Discuss the measures to make supervision effective.

[luttu]

Different management experts have suggested different measures to make supervision really effective. Important among them are as follows:
(1) Organisational set-up—Only a person who is himself well motivated can succeed in motivating others. It is therefore necessary that the importance of the role of the supervisors is duly recognised and they are provided remuneration, status and authority befitting their role. Also, they should be allowed a fair amount of flexibility in the planning, organisation and execution of their work without any interference from their superiors. Moreover, any suggestions or recommendations made by the supervisors should be promptly attended as this will help the supervisors in establishing their leadership over their own subordinates.
(2) Management by exception—The work of supervision should be so arranged that only matters requiring special skills and experience are attended to by the supervisors. If the supervisors busy themselves with routine jobs. They will be left with little time to attend to major issues like planning, organisation, etc.
(3) Effective delegation—Supervisors can perform their work effectively only when they are granted adequate authority to monitor and control performance at their end. Interference in their day-to-day work will only frustrate them and affect their credibility vis-a-vis their subordinates.
(4) Human approach—Supervision can be effective only when it is employee-centred as against being work-centred. If the emphasis is on the worker, it would not be difficult to motivate him effectively so as to get the best results. If the supervisors are only concerned with the output and disregard the interests and feelings of the workers, they may not be able to accomplish their objects.
(5) Effective communication—To ensure effective supervision, it is necessary that there is a free flow of ideas, suggestions, complaints, etc. as between the supervisors and their subordinates. If the lines of communications are not kept well-oiled, mutual understanding and cooperation will be adversely affected leading to frequent break-downs in work.
(6) General supervision—In order to gain higher output through supervision, there should be general supervision instead of close supervision. These practising general supervision allow their employees to excercise their own discretion more frequently, to set their own pace and to work out details of their jobs by themselves. 
(7) Strong group relationship—A supervisor should not go against the group relationship if he wants to make his job effective. According to Beach, "best supervisors are those who strive actively to build up strong group pride and cohesiveness."
(8) Equal emphasis on people and production — An effective supervision never puts his workers to continuous pressure for more and more production. A successful supervisor should show a balanced concern for both productivity and employee needs.