Role Conflicts

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Structural framework: Authority and supervision [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author

Authority and supervision are two important roles of human services administrators. Authority involves the power to determine, delegate, or settle issues. Supervision involves directing or overseeing performance and/or work activities. When human services administrators apply these roles to manage staff, organizations generally benefit. Yet, authority and supervision can conflict, particularly when an organizational change occurs. Role conflicts can be challenging for any human services administrator. To address such conflicts, human services administrators must apply authority and supervision in a way that promotes sound management practices and meets the needs of the organization.  

 Post an example of how the authority role of human services administrators might conflict with the supervisory role of human services administrators. Then explain how role conflicts between authority and supervision might pose a challenge to human services administrators