SPAN OF CONTROL AS IT APPLIES TO THE MAINTENANCE FOREMAN
THIS DISCUSSION WAS PREPARED AS AN ADJUNCT TO THE IOWA STATE HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE STUDY. IT REVIEWS THE TRENDS NOTED IN THE SUPERVISORY SPANS IN INDUSTRY AND THEN PRESENTS AN ANALYSIS OF THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SPAN OF CONTROL IN THE JOB OF THE IOWA STATE HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE FOREMAN ASSIGNED TO EACH COUNTY. THE CONCLUSIONS ARE THAT THE HIGHWAY FOREMAN OPERATES IN A MORE COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT THAN HIS INDUSTRIAL COUNTERPART AND THAT THE AVERAGE FOREMAN IS OVERBURDENED IF HE SUPERVISES MORE THAN 12-15 EMPLOYEES. THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOW: (1) TAKE STEPS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN FOREMEN AND EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB, (2) LIVE WITH PRESENT SPANS BUT PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THE FOREMAN BY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: PROVIDE FOREMAN WITH A PLANNING CLERK (A FUNCTIONAL STAFF POSITION) AND AT LEAST 2 WORKING SUPERVISORS (GANG BOSSES), PROVIDE THE FOREMAN WITH AN ASSISTANT WHO WOULD BECOME ESSENTIALLY A JUNIOR PARTNER, AND PROVIDE THE FOREMAN WITH AN ASSISTANT WHO WOULD BE PUT IN CHARGE OF A PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S WORK FORCE. /AUTHOR/
- Record URL:
-
Supplemental Notes:
- Supplement I, PP 178-181. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
-
Authors:
- Cowles, H A
- Publication Date: 1961
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Monograph Title: IOWA STATE HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE STUDY: TIME UTILIZATION, PRODUCTIVITY, METHODS, AND MANAGEMENT-1959-1960.
-
Serial:
- Highway Research Board Special Report
- Issue Number: 65 Supplement I
- Publisher: Highway Research Board
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Highway maintenance; Maintenance management; Maintenance personnel; Supervision
- Old TRIS Terms: Maintenance administration
- Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00218523
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Sep 29 1994 12:00AM