What is the best single measure of a supervisor's ability to perform his job?

• A. a low accident rate
• B. the opinion of the workers under him
• C. the work output of his department
• D. the opinion of fellow supervisors

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that a supervisor’s effectiveness is best judged by the results produced by the unit under their leadership. The department’s work output directly reflects the supervisor’s ability to plan, coordinate, and motivate the team to achieve targets, using resources efficiently and keeping processes on track. It captures a broad view of performance, encompassing productivity, timeliness, and overall outcomes that arise from how the supervisor manages people and work flows. While safety, morale, and peer opinions matter, they’re either external to direct performance or are subjective and less reliable as a single measure. So, the department’s output provides the most comprehensive single indicator of a supervisor’s ability to do the job.