The looming retirement wave and subsequent efforts to replace retiring workers brings an opportunity for how organizations can function better, according to a new report by the Merit Systems Protection Board.
The state of supervision in the federal government is changing, the report noted, largely due to an increasingly knowledge-based environment, new human resources flexibilities, telework initiatives and a move to a multisector workforce. While a mass exodus of seasoned supervisors in the coming years will present challenges for federal agencies, it also presents an opportunity to create a new supervisory cadre that is better equipped to manage this new knowledge-based work environment, MSPB said.
Specifically, the report noted that the increase in knowledge-based work has created an environment where supervisors and workers are called on to organize communication networks rather than hierarchies, and supervisors must adapt to being more of a teammate and coach than a traditional boss. "Agencies should take advantage of the coming supervisory exodus to recruit, select, appraise, and train new supervisors on their ability to engage knowledge workers in our increasingly information-based, technology-oriented, and collaborative work environment," the report states.
MSPB recommended that agencies reexamine the work demands currently placed on supervisors, and take into account the changing nature of supervision in the federal workplace as they build recruitment, assessment, selection and development programs for supervisors. Agencies also should train supervisors on how to better engage employees by empowering them, promoting teamwork and cooperation and rewarding employees appropriately, MSPB said.
How has the nature of work changed at your federal agency, and what specific challenges are supervisors facing as a result? Do you share MSPB's view that the looming retirement wave presents an opportunity to create a new supervisory cadre that is better equipped to manage in the information age?
COMMENTS
Being a supervisor who grew up right with the technology that apparently I all of a sudden don't know about, I'm offended! I started my career as a keypunch operator. I have continued my career right on up to the 21st century, and frankly, am better equiped to handle this "new" information age than anyone who has received their knowledge from a book or a classroom. What, exactly, do you think we have been doing all these years? Who do you think has been managing all these years? Who has adjusted, conformed and perservered all these years? Who do you think GOT you here? We did it -- nobody held our hands. There wasn't any help on line. We had to think, plan and innovate. We had to admit mistakes and move past them. We had to succeed without expecting anyone to pat our backs and say good job. And we did. This may be the 'information age', but information is only part of the equation. Knowledge is what completes it. Knowledge takes time, experience and patience. As a final thought, I'd like to add that after reading this, but before becoming offended at the implication, I thougt to myself "finally, they are beginning to understand that in IT, it is absolutely a team effort. Managers can't just sit behind a desk. They have to roll up their sleeves and dig in right along with their staff." We've already known this forever. It's nice to see that you young'uns are catching up.
Linda 11/23/09 07:05 am ET