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front-line manager
, dealing with the levels of the organisation where the 
bread-and-butter work is done. They will deal with matters such as staffing and health and safety 
at the day-to-day operational level, where a manager might deal with them at a policy-making 
level. 
(b) 
A supervisor does not spend all their time on the managerial aspects of their job. Much of the 
time will be spent doing 
technical/operational work
. 
(c) 
A supervisor is a 
gatekeeper
or filter for communication between managerial and non-managerial 
staff, both 
upward 
(conveying reports and suggestions) and 
downward 
(conveying policies, 
instructions and feedback). 
(d) 
The supervisor monitors and controls work by means of 
day-to-day, frequent and detailed 
information: 
higher levels of management plan and control using longer-term, less frequent and 
less detailed information, which must be 'edited' or selected and reported by the supervisor. 
BPP Tutor Toolkit Copy

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PART D: LEADING AND MANAGING INDIVIDUALS AND TEAMS 
 
306
 
Above the supervisor there may be several levels of management. Authority, responsibility and the 
timescale for decision-making all increase as the scalar chain is ascended. However, all managerial work 
may be considered to have some elements of similarity: it may be argued that supervisors carry out 
Fayol's five functions of management at a lower level. 
QUESTION 
Supervising work
 
Bert Close has decided to delegate the task of identifying the reasons for machine 'down' time (when 
machines are not working) over the past three months to Brenda Cartwright. This will involve her in 
talking to operators, foremen and supervisors and also liaising with other departments to establish the 
effects of this down time. What will Bert need to do to delegate this task effectively? List at least four 
items he will need to cover with Brenda. 
ANSWER 

Identify task objectives 

Formats of reporting results 

Explain limits within which Brenda will work 

Progress 
monitoring 

Deadlines