IAHSS Supervisor Test Questions With 100% Verified
Solutions
Chapter 4
Authority and Control -
ANSWER
Formal and Informal Authority - ANSWER Formal authority is authority given to you by
an organization to render decisions and perform actions related to your job
responsibilities.
Informal authority refers to the "gray areas" in the range of authority. Informal authority
is not granted by the organization, but developed by the individual.
Ability to exercise influence because you earned the respect and trust of others in the
organization.
Best developed through courtesy and respect for others.
Chain of Command - ANSWER The chain of command is often described as an
unbroken line of authority.
The empowerment model is characterized by a moving away from rigid management
authority, toward open decision making.
Supervisors who exhibit delegation, team development, and self-management skills are
the most successful.
The span of control is invaluable to a supervisor, as decisions are best made by those
closest to the action.
Separates employees into levels.
A situation can break down if you take on more authority and control than you have
been given.
Tools for Effective Management - ANSWER The security supervisor counts on several
tools to effectively manage: The authority needed to discipline
Input on who is assigned to the unit
A voice when staff are considered for promotion
The authority to require additional training
The authority to communicate to your own staff, including sending instructions, memos,
etc.
The freedom to measure your staff's performance without interference
Training must be continuous for supervisors.
,Becoming a Change Agent - ANSWER Businesses rarely succeed with sustainable
transformation initiatives unless they are led from the top.
Understanding the scope of the task at hand and creating a model to measure the
effectiveness of the change are key.
Styles of Authority - ANSWER Motivating subordinates to be productive members of
the organization is your goal.
The style of authority you use usually depends on the situation at hand: Authoritarian
style: The supervisor is in total charge and is the enforcer in the department. You
expect all subordinates to do as you order, without question. Laissez-faire: A less
structured, hands-off approach to supervision where employees set their own goals,
make their own policies, and follow their own procedures. Quality management is a
group-oriented management style, the preferred supervisory style.
Successful Quality Management - ANSWER Successful quality management is to use
the skills and abilities of your individual officers in a group-oriented management style,
giving employees the ability to make decisions that positively impact their daily
assignments: Communication is open
Explanations are given and reasons are provided for policies and procedures
Employees have increased pride in their work and a sense of ownership Eventually,
productivity increases and the quality of work is higher
The Security Supervisor - ANSWER An inverted chain of command encourages
supervisors to place themselves in the front-line, in the employees' shoes.
The nursing, medical, facilities, risk management, legal, and other quality assurance
departments need to understand the capability of the security officers and the resources
they have been given to create a safe and secure environment.
At any time, you may need and rely on external support from local, state, and federal
authorities.
Beyond the supervisory responsibility to manage security personnel, you also are
responsible for maintaining an orderly facility.
Influencing Others to Follow Orders - ANSWER Set a good example in following
orders yourself.
Make certain that orders are clear, concise, and understood. Be aware that what to do
may be understood, but how to do it may not.
Be thoroughly familiar with the levels and experience of subordinates.
Delegate assignments to those officers whose experience is sufficient to assume the
assignment.
,Focus on coaching those individuals who are unfamiliar with assignments to increase
productivity and knowledge.
Conduct yourself in a professional manner that influences loyalty in others; in return,
you develop subordinates' confidence so they follow orders.
Explain why assignments or orders are to be done. In
Chapter 5
Leadership -
ANSWER
The Manager vs. The Leader - ANSWER Managers manage the status quo; they
oversee a department or process to ensure efficiency and productivity. Leaders, on the
other hand, go beyond that to create organizational change.
Managers maintain the balance of the operation, while leaders create new approaches
and imagine new areas to explore.
Where managers act to limit choices by holding staff accountable to established
procedures and processes, leaders work to inspire staff to challenge the established
procedures and process and to develop fresh approaches to long-standing problems.
The essence of leadership is found in the leader's ability to move the department to a
higher level of performance.
Characteristics of Good Leadership - ANSWER Hands-off management style A
good leader recognizes when to get out of the way to let people do their jobs and
when to challenge them.
Focuses on staff retention and morale
Employees are not loyal to organizations, they are loyal to people.
Champions the staff
Work is personal and what happens to someone at work is taken personally.
Emphasizes accountability
While employees need to feel rewarded and appreciated for a job well done, they also
must see discipline imposed for unacceptable work or behavior.
Actions of a Successful Leader - ANSWER Develops the Team: Develops a team of
highly qualified officers who are jointly responsible for achieving the department's goals.
Creates the Vision: Constructs a crystal-clear mental picture of what the staff should
become and then transmits this vision to others.
Clarifies the Values: Identifies the organizational values and communicates these
values through words and actions.
, Positions: Develops an effective strategy for moving the group from its present position
toward the vision.
Communicates: Achieves a common understanding with others by using all modes of
communications effectively.
Empowers: Motivates others by raising them to their "better selves."
Coaches: Helps staff members develop the skills they need to achieve excellence.
Measures: Identifies the critical success factors associated with the group's operation
and gauges progress on the basis of these factors.
Types of Leaders - ANSWER *The Transformational Leader:
Motivates others by using visionary, inspirational, and intellectually stimulating
approaches and paying high attention to the individual differences among people.
Moral leadership style
Demonstrates how effective that individual is as a person and how well they are
understood by others.
Subordinates who respect their leaders emulate the leader's style and actions.
The Transactional Leader:
*Adopts the belief that when people have agreed to do a job they cede all authority to
their manager as part of the deal; and that the prime purpose of a subordinate is to do
what the manager assigns.
*Bureaucratic leadership style
*Communicate and enforce rules
*Progressive leadership style
*Set objectives and then go about reaching them in an organized, orderly, and
conscious way
Becoming a Leader - ANSWER Leaders should always endeavor to train their staffs
to become good leaders.
An effective leader needs to manage time effectively and feel comfortable sharing
Solutions
Chapter 4
Authority and Control -
ANSWER
Formal and Informal Authority - ANSWER Formal authority is authority given to you by
an organization to render decisions and perform actions related to your job
responsibilities.
Informal authority refers to the "gray areas" in the range of authority. Informal authority
is not granted by the organization, but developed by the individual.
Ability to exercise influence because you earned the respect and trust of others in the
organization.
Best developed through courtesy and respect for others.
Chain of Command - ANSWER The chain of command is often described as an
unbroken line of authority.
The empowerment model is characterized by a moving away from rigid management
authority, toward open decision making.
Supervisors who exhibit delegation, team development, and self-management skills are
the most successful.
The span of control is invaluable to a supervisor, as decisions are best made by those
closest to the action.
Separates employees into levels.
A situation can break down if you take on more authority and control than you have
been given.
Tools for Effective Management - ANSWER The security supervisor counts on several
tools to effectively manage: The authority needed to discipline
Input on who is assigned to the unit
A voice when staff are considered for promotion
The authority to require additional training
The authority to communicate to your own staff, including sending instructions, memos,
etc.
The freedom to measure your staff's performance without interference
Training must be continuous for supervisors.
,Becoming a Change Agent - ANSWER Businesses rarely succeed with sustainable
transformation initiatives unless they are led from the top.
Understanding the scope of the task at hand and creating a model to measure the
effectiveness of the change are key.
Styles of Authority - ANSWER Motivating subordinates to be productive members of
the organization is your goal.
The style of authority you use usually depends on the situation at hand: Authoritarian
style: The supervisor is in total charge and is the enforcer in the department. You
expect all subordinates to do as you order, without question. Laissez-faire: A less
structured, hands-off approach to supervision where employees set their own goals,
make their own policies, and follow their own procedures. Quality management is a
group-oriented management style, the preferred supervisory style.
Successful Quality Management - ANSWER Successful quality management is to use
the skills and abilities of your individual officers in a group-oriented management style,
giving employees the ability to make decisions that positively impact their daily
assignments: Communication is open
Explanations are given and reasons are provided for policies and procedures
Employees have increased pride in their work and a sense of ownership Eventually,
productivity increases and the quality of work is higher
The Security Supervisor - ANSWER An inverted chain of command encourages
supervisors to place themselves in the front-line, in the employees' shoes.
The nursing, medical, facilities, risk management, legal, and other quality assurance
departments need to understand the capability of the security officers and the resources
they have been given to create a safe and secure environment.
At any time, you may need and rely on external support from local, state, and federal
authorities.
Beyond the supervisory responsibility to manage security personnel, you also are
responsible for maintaining an orderly facility.
Influencing Others to Follow Orders - ANSWER Set a good example in following
orders yourself.
Make certain that orders are clear, concise, and understood. Be aware that what to do
may be understood, but how to do it may not.
Be thoroughly familiar with the levels and experience of subordinates.
Delegate assignments to those officers whose experience is sufficient to assume the
assignment.
,Focus on coaching those individuals who are unfamiliar with assignments to increase
productivity and knowledge.
Conduct yourself in a professional manner that influences loyalty in others; in return,
you develop subordinates' confidence so they follow orders.
Explain why assignments or orders are to be done. In
Chapter 5
Leadership -
ANSWER
The Manager vs. The Leader - ANSWER Managers manage the status quo; they
oversee a department or process to ensure efficiency and productivity. Leaders, on the
other hand, go beyond that to create organizational change.
Managers maintain the balance of the operation, while leaders create new approaches
and imagine new areas to explore.
Where managers act to limit choices by holding staff accountable to established
procedures and processes, leaders work to inspire staff to challenge the established
procedures and process and to develop fresh approaches to long-standing problems.
The essence of leadership is found in the leader's ability to move the department to a
higher level of performance.
Characteristics of Good Leadership - ANSWER Hands-off management style A
good leader recognizes when to get out of the way to let people do their jobs and
when to challenge them.
Focuses on staff retention and morale
Employees are not loyal to organizations, they are loyal to people.
Champions the staff
Work is personal and what happens to someone at work is taken personally.
Emphasizes accountability
While employees need to feel rewarded and appreciated for a job well done, they also
must see discipline imposed for unacceptable work or behavior.
Actions of a Successful Leader - ANSWER Develops the Team: Develops a team of
highly qualified officers who are jointly responsible for achieving the department's goals.
Creates the Vision: Constructs a crystal-clear mental picture of what the staff should
become and then transmits this vision to others.
Clarifies the Values: Identifies the organizational values and communicates these
values through words and actions.
, Positions: Develops an effective strategy for moving the group from its present position
toward the vision.
Communicates: Achieves a common understanding with others by using all modes of
communications effectively.
Empowers: Motivates others by raising them to their "better selves."
Coaches: Helps staff members develop the skills they need to achieve excellence.
Measures: Identifies the critical success factors associated with the group's operation
and gauges progress on the basis of these factors.
Types of Leaders - ANSWER *The Transformational Leader:
Motivates others by using visionary, inspirational, and intellectually stimulating
approaches and paying high attention to the individual differences among people.
Moral leadership style
Demonstrates how effective that individual is as a person and how well they are
understood by others.
Subordinates who respect their leaders emulate the leader's style and actions.
The Transactional Leader:
*Adopts the belief that when people have agreed to do a job they cede all authority to
their manager as part of the deal; and that the prime purpose of a subordinate is to do
what the manager assigns.
*Bureaucratic leadership style
*Communicate and enforce rules
*Progressive leadership style
*Set objectives and then go about reaching them in an organized, orderly, and
conscious way
Becoming a Leader - ANSWER Leaders should always endeavor to train their staffs
to become good leaders.
An effective leader needs to manage time effectively and feel comfortable sharing
