First-level supervisors are responsible for the day-to-day operations of their department and report to a store manager or other supervisors. They may be responsible for hiring and training new employees, scheduling, assigning work tasks, overseeing inventory and stock levels, and addressing customer complaints or problems. To attain outstanding results, the management development program for first-level supervisors must include communication, leadership, team management, problem-solving techniques, and accounting and marketing skills.
A management development program for first-level supervisors in a mass-market retail company should include courses and experiences in leadership, communication, problem-solving, and team building. In addition, supervisors should have the opportunity to participate in team meetings and work with their teams to complete tasks (Chigudu, 2021). Finally, they should be given feedback on their performance to continue developing their skills. Leadership and communication experiences and courses are key in designing a management development program for first-level supervisors in a mass-market retail company. The course will provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead, motivate, and communicate effectively with their employees (Chigudu, 2021). Some of the topics that should be covered in the leadership course include problem-solving and decision-making, conflict resolution, change management, and coaching and mentoring. The communication course should cover verbal and nonverbal communication, listening skills, persuasive speaking, writing for business, and team communication. The goal of the leadership and communication courses and experience will be to provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful leaders and communicators in their organizations.
Similarly, teambuilding courses and experiences are vital in designing a management development program for the supervisors because they provide an opportunity for participants to learn how to work effectively together, develop trust, and resolve conflicts. The courses will similarly allow supervisors to practice the skills they learn in a safe and supportive environment, which will assist them in applying the skills they learned (Chigudu, 2021). Finally, teambuilding courses will aid supervisors in building relationships with other members of management, which will be beneficial when it comes time for promotions. The receiving of feedback concerning the performance will be essential since it will identify the areas that may need improvement within the company. The feedback could be through employee appraisal, thus providing personalized training to the supervisors to ensure excellent performance by the company.
My current employer’s management development program plan is better than my plan for first-level supervisors in a mass-market retail company because it provides a more comprehensive range of skills. I will improvise my plan by offering more training in economics-related courses such as accounting and marketing. In order to make sound and informed business decisions, a supervisor in a mass-market retail company needs to have an understanding of accounting and marketing skills. Accounting skills give supervisors the ability to read and interpret financial statements, track expenses and revenue, and budget for the future (Wolff et al., 2017). In addition, accounting skills can also help first-level supervisors develop a better understanding of how their department impacts the company’s overall profitability.
Likewise, the supervisors in a mass-market retail company will need to have strong marketing skills in order to create effective marketing plans and motivate their sales teams. Supervisors need to be able to identify their target market, understand what motivates their customers, and develop campaigns that will appeal to their target customers (Wolff et al., 2017). They similarly need to be good at organizing and motivating their sales team and track results to adjust their marketing plans as needed. Additionally, good marketing skills will help first-level supervisors build better relationships with their suppliers and create more successful partnerships with other businesses.
In conclusion, management development programs should entail key experiences and courses such as team building, leadership, problem-solving, and communication. Similarly, to have a more competent and comprehensive management development program, first-level supervisors in mass-market retail need to have a strong understanding of accounting and marketing principles. Accounting provides the basic financial information needed to make sound business decisions, while marketing enables supervisors to understand customers’ needs and preferences and develop effective marketing strategies.
References
Chigudu, T. T. (2021). Developing a competency model for middle class managers at Weaverly clothing company in Zimbabwe. Journal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies, 9(2), 276-290.
Wolff, A., Gondran, N., & Brodhag, C. (2017). Detecting unsustainable pressures exerted on biodiversity by a company. Application to the food portfolio of a retailer. Journal of Cleaner Production, 166, 784-797.