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21st
Century Supervision
Supervision
literally means "to watch over".
Historically, some members of organizations have
been designated as supervisors.
Their function was to watch other people work, tell
them what to do, and make sure that they did as they were
told.
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In
the 20th century, a body of research, analysis, and advice
developed regarding supervision.
In the last few decades of that century, radically new
principles emerged to meet the unprecedented needs of continual
technological change, a more educated workforce, and other
organizational developments.The trends of the 1970s, 1980s
and 1990s will continue into the 21st century, which will see
ever greater change in the kinds of organizations that exist,
the way that they do business, and the relationships between
people and the organization. The following table shows in brief
the difference between 20th century and 21st century
supervision.
20th Century
·
Directing
·
Evaluating
·
Controlling
·
Authority
·
Issuing
orders
·
Giving
training
·
Enforcing rules
·
Implementing
procedures
·
Looking
up to top levels
·
Staying above
subordinates
·
Relaying
information
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21st Century
·
Coordinating
·
Coaching
·
Supporting
·
Stewardship
·
Answering
questions
·
Sharing
learning
·
Developing
shared vision
·
Reinventing
work
·
Looking
out to customers
·
Being
immersed in teams
·
Sharing information
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The development of best practice thought about supervision
can be traced in the following sources:
·
Robert Greenleaf, Servant Leadership, 1976
·
Peter Block, Stewardship,
1993
·
Horst Bergmann, Kathleen Hurson and Darlene Russ-Eft,
Everyone a Leader, 1999
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