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Unit Aims, Objectives and Prerequisites
S.1.3 The port supervisor: supervisory skills

1. Unit Aims

This Unit is designed:

1. To explain the supervisor’s need for problem-solving and time-management skills, and the nature of those skills.
2. To discuss the nature and importance of the communication skills necessary for supervisors.
3. To describe the principles underlying disciplinary and grievance procedures.
4. To discuss the role of the supervisor in managing change within the organization.
5. To improve supervisors’ skills in problem solving, communication, and the handling of disciplinary, grievance and change issues.

2. Unit Objectives

After completing this Unit, the learner will be able to:

1. List and distinguish the attributes definable as supervisory skills.
2. List and explain the eight steps in the process of problem solving, and outline the six principles governing decision making.
3. Given the necessary data concerning a reported problem, analyse the problem correctly and propose an effective solution.
4. Explain the need for and value of careful management of time resources.
5. State and explain the strategies used in supervisory time management.
6. Make the most effective use of his/her own time and that of his/her work-group.
7. Explain the principles of communication and the factors which determine the effectiveness of the communication process.
8. Communicate a message, instruction or report clearly, in spoken or written form.
9. State the importance of counselling and the disciplinary procedure in the achievement of effective performance, and list and explain the steps in that procedure.
10. Conduct an effective counselling interview in relation to a disciplinary matter.
11. Explain the importance of dealing promptly and sympathetically with work-group grievances, and describe the stages in the grievance procedure.
12. Handle a work-group grievance promptly and effectively.
13. Explain the role of the supervisor in the management of change.
14. Define, recognize the best definition of, or distinguish between true and false statements concerning, the technical terms used in the Unit, as listed in sections 3 and 4 below.

3. Unit Prerequisites

It is assumed that trainees will, before starting this Unit, have studied the following Units or will have demonstrated (for example by successfully completing the Tests for those Units) their understanding of the topics covered by them:

• Container terminal operations (C.1.1) or an equivalent Unit for bulk terminals or break-bulk berths
• The port supervisor: organizational status (S.1.1)
• The port supervisor: tasks and duties (S.1.2)