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Managing Research Projects

Managing Research Projects

Delegation Supervision Levels

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Team members with different levels of experience will require different degree of supervision. It is important to identify and agree the appropriate level of supervision for the person to whom you have delegated a task.  The Delegated Tasks Supervision Record (PS16) may help you and your team members to keep track of the progress of delegated tasks.

Here are some guidelines:

Level of experience
Degree of supervision
New or inexperienced research team members, or those with low confidence

 

The highest level of supervision will be required here:
  • Tell the person what needs to be done
  • Investigate how they will complete the work
  • If they have little idea about how to complete the tasks, show them
  • Put together and agree a plan of action, with timeframes for task completion and times to report back progress.
  • Review progress frequently and give feedback
  • Provide a greater or lesser degree of supervision based on evaluation of progress  
Team members with some experience and some confidence

 

  • Explain the desired outcomes for the delegated work
  • Put together and agree a plan of action, with timeframes for task completion and times to report back progress
  • Review progress less frequently than with inexperienced team members
  • Provide feedback  
More experienced, but  maybe lacking in confidence or experience in that particular area
  • Explain the desired outcomes for the delegated work
  • Request they put together a plan for completing the task
  • Ask them to establish check points and ensure you are comfortable with them
  • Review progress and provide feedback in line with the agreed plan
Experienced and confident team members

 

  • Explain the desired outcomes for the delegated work
  • Request they put together a plan for completing the task
  • Ask them to establish check points and ensure you are comfortable with them
  • Leave them to complete the delegated task
  • Remember you are still responsible overall for the task completion, so don’t leave responsibility totally with them  

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