Sheet 11
IMPROVEMENTS IN WORK
Supervisors must constantly seek to upgrade the quality of work performance within their unit. To do so, they must fully understand the difficulty that this entails. With the support of their junior staff, they may successfully overcome any obstacle that might present itself if they take the following approach.
1 Perspective on Work Improvements
A primary source of motivation towards work improvements should be a supervisor's awareness of the necessity for change. Supervisors are required to incorporate the following in their approach to improving the work operations of their unit.
(1) Efficiency
Supervisors must accurately analyze current standards of work performance and plan how to increase the speed, reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of these operations. They may, for example, check whether it is possible or not to standardize work operations or if the introduction of certain machinery would reduce the volume of menial jobs that staff spend time and energy on.
(2) Purpose
In the present society where social and economic situations are in a constant state of flux, the original purpose behind certain work operations may be long obsolete and far removed from public expectations of government activities. It is not enough to simply analyze how to increase the efficiency of a particular task. Supervisors must constantly question the original purpose of the job itself and satisfy that it is still valid before attempting to improve or revise this work.
2 Psychological Obstacles to Improvement
Improvement is always accompanied by change. Certain people have a psychological barrier against trying out new things. It is difficult for them to change their established beliefs, even should they prove to be inaccurate or ineffectual. These people are generally not confident of being successful or are greatly afraid of making any errors. Supervisors must avoid at all cost falling into this trap and should encourage their colleagues and other staff across the organization to take positive attitude towards improvements in work.
