Managing Operations: Management Intervention

Management Intervention

It would be quite normal, perhaps even expected, that some tasks and activities contained within the operational plan will not be successfully achieved. The manager needs to monitor the progress of the operational plan and were there is evidence that an element of the operational plan is not succeeding, the manager needs to investigate the causes.

Causes of under-performance of the Operational Plan

For example:

Employee lack skill, knowledge or motivation to complete their tasks
Poor communication between staff
A failure to set aside sufficient funds to complete a project
The organisation's priorities have changed and resources have been diverted elsewhere
External factors have imposed changes
Poor coordination of resources, for example human resources
Insufficient timelines given to complete tasks

In monitoring the implementation of an Operational Plan the manager will continually check whether outcomes are as expected. These investigations may indicate whether the problem can be "fixed" or not.

There are two courses of action. If investigations show that the problem cannot be fixed, then the strategy is abandoned. In this case, any remaining resources will be utilised for other strategies. If the investigations provides some evidence that the problem can be fixed, then the manager needs to decide the best way to intervene and fix the problem.

Methods of intervention

The following are some examples of how and when managers may intervene in situations where planned outcomes are not being achieved.

Example 1

An employee lacks skills, knowledge or motivation

Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to:

Coaching and mentoring the employee until they are able to achieve the desired standard

Providing off-the-job training to the employee

Moving the employee to another section and replacing them

Terminating the employee's contract and replacing them

Example 2

Funds have been used incorrectly and as a result there are insufficient funds for remaining projects

Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to:

Reducing the cost of remaining projects until the shortfall is made up

Seeking additional funding to make up the shortfall

Putting back the implementation of a strategy to a later date

Abandoning activities and utilising the funds that become available

Example 3

Poor communication

Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to:

Identify additional global communication strategies e.g. newsletters, web sites

Encourage organisational personnel to suggest improvements to communication

Identify problem communication areas and fix

Provide training to staff to improve communication

Example 4

Disputes arise between key people

Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to:

Assist the parties to settle their dispute

Ensure parties are not placed in potential conflict situations

Relieve one or both parties of their responsibility

Management Intervention

Causes of under-performance of the Operational Plan

Methods of intervention

MANAGING OPERATIONS

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Example 1	An employee lacks skills, knowledge or motivation Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to: Coaching and mentoring the employee until they are able to achieve the desired standard Providing off-the-job training to the employee Moving the employee to another section and replacing them Terminating the employee's contract and replacing them
Example 2	Funds have been used incorrectly and as a result there are insufficient funds for remaining projects Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to: Reducing the cost of remaining projects until the shortfall is made up Seeking additional funding to make up the shortfall Putting back the implementation of a strategy to a later date Abandoning activities and utilising the funds that become available
Example 3	Poor communication Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to: Identify additional global communication strategies e.g. newsletters, web sites Encourage organisational personnel to suggest improvements to communication Identify problem communication areas and fix Provide training to staff to improve communication
Example 4	Disputes arise between key people Intervention by managers may take the form of, but is not limited to: Assist the parties to settle their dispute Ensure parties are not placed in potential conflict situations Relieve one or both parties of their responsibility