Better Supervision

Better SuperVision (BSV) leaning is designed so that both the new and the experienced supervisors will find the learning valuable. New supervisors will find a core foundation of skills that will help them succeed. Experienced supervisors will find new solutions to issues and develop their current supervisory skills to a new level.

Construction owners, contractors, and building trade unions worked cooperatively to develop a program which could train people in the key competencies identified by industry leaders as essential to success in improving productivity, quality and human performance in a construction or maintenance environment.

The core subject areas focus on communication & leadership, labour relations, planning and scheduling, quality and productivity, and safety improvement skills. Training is delivered to people from a mix of trades and companies providing cross fertilization of ideas and allowing for team building amongst crafts.

Better SuperVision has been a cooperative effort involving labour, management, and owners, all with vested interests in improving how the “people part” of our business delivers cost effective construction. Construction supervisors from different trades now benefit from a set of supervisory skills and knowledge that they hold in common, which contributes to the coordination and integration of a multi-trade construction site.

Better SuperVision classes are normally multi-trade in make-up in order that participants can learn from other trades about operational problems and solutions achieved. The classroom experience is designed to be highly participartory by capturing the experience of the learner through many interactive exercises. Classes are small in size (12-16 people) allowing for significant involvement with instructors.
Course Structure:

Better SuperVision consists of three components:

Part One – Classroom Training (5 modules – 54 hours total)

This training is offered in both day and evening programs. The full program is divided in to five modules. Module One is a foundation module and introduction to the full Better SuperVision classroom training and must be taken first. Modules 2,3,4,and 5 can be taken in any sequence at any time.

Module One : Leadership and SuperVision

1.    The Role of Supervisor
2.    The Unionized Construction Industry
3.    Communication Basics – Listening Skills
4.    Communication Basics – Speaking Skills
5.    Handling Disagreements and Problems
6.    Meetings

Module Two : Labour Relations
 
1.    Legal and Contractual Issues
2.    Personal Problems
3.    Performance Problems

Module Three : Planning and Scheduling

1.    Project Plans and Schedules
2.    Project Plans and Schedules (cont’d)
3.    Planning For You

Module Four : Productivity and Quality

1.    Commitment to Productivity and Quality
2.    Quality Tools
3.    Quality Problem Solving for Quality Outcomes

Module Five : Leading Effective Work Teams

1.    Team Concepts
2.    Motivation
3.    Team Performance
Part Two – Safety Supevisory Skills  (1 module – 16 hours total)

In addition to the five modules already outlined, candidates are asked to complete a recognized supervisory safety skills training program. The program recommended by Better SuperVision, is Leadership for Safety Excellence which is offered through the Alberta Construction Safety Association and a number of building trade union halls in Alberta.

Part Three – Development Tool, “On The Job”

In order to facilitate the transfer of Better SuperVision skills to the real world, all candidates are asked to complete, with their immediate supervisor, the Development Tool over a three month period. Please identify on the application form, your supervisor, who will be responsible for completing this Development Tool. Candidates who are unemployed at the time of taking the program will be responsible for ensuring that the Development Tool is completed at a later date when they are working as a supervisor.

Registration : Electrical Industry Training Centre

I.B.E.W. Local 424 members can register by contacting the Electrical Industry Training Centre. A $100.00 registration fee is required. This registration fee is returned to the member upon successful completion of all three parts of the Better SuperVision program.

Certification :

Better SuperVision candidates will receive a certificate and seals which recognize successful completion of the three parts of the Better SuperVision program.