Management Observation Program – Introduction
“You can expect only what you inspect.”
Military Axiom
Managers are responsible for establishing and reinforcing work priorities and standards of performance. Reinforcing expectations requires interaction with subordinates and is most effective when the manager personally observes, rather than reading or hearing about, performance behaviors and immediately provides feedback. Lasting individual and organization performance improvement occurs through ongoing reassessment supported by performance data collection, documentation, and analysis used to reinforce desired individual and group behaviors, modify counterproductive behaviors, and eliminate organizational barriers to performance excellence. A well designed and executed management observation program serves as an effective performance improvement and reinforcement tool to achieve these long-term performance changes.
The management observation program is an integral part of an organization’s evaluation and control program. By design, these observation programs compel direct management observation of and feedback on work performed while supporting the performance data collection and analysis needed to realize lasting, beneficial personnel and organizational performance change. They typically consist of predefined performance assessment scorecards, a data collection and analysis application, key performance indicators and reports, and a governing procedure. This procedure defines required observation topics, frequencies, and quality standards as well as documentation and feedback protocols and data analysis, trend reporting, and corrective action; all aligned to support achievement of organizational values and mission goals.
Focus of the Management Observation Program Category
Articles in this category will focus on the underlying principles, best practices, and warning flags associated with establishing and executing a management observation program aligned with organizational values and mission goals that effectively modifies personnel and organizational behaviors for the achievement of superior results. The following articles, podcasts, documents, and resources cover those topics critical to a robust management observation program.
Articles
Best Practices
- Best Practice – Immediate Feedback [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Program Alignment with Established Performance Standards [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Use of Standard Observation Forms [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Observation Quotas [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Observation Training, Grading, and Quality Assessments [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Observation Announcement Timing [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Documented and Signed Observations [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
- Best Practice – Cross Organizational Trending [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
Warning Flags
- Warning Flag – End of Period and Clustered Observations [StrategyDriven Premium Content]
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