An Exploration of Supervisory Duties and Technical Authority in the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center

Abstract

This qualitative study explores supervisory duties and technical authority in the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC) considering the Future of Work, the Army Modernization Strategy, and the Army People Strategy. The research shows that AvMC supervisors need competencies in accountability, customer service, decisiveness, flexibility, integrity/honesty, interpersonal skills, oral communication, problem solving, resilience, and written communication to execute their core supervisory duties (U.S. Office of Personnel Management, n.d.-b). AvMC supervisors must also have technical expertise in the discipline over which they lead to both supervise and lead the technical mission (Civilian position descriptors and organizational information, n.d.). The research indicates that the hybrid work environment dominating the Future of Work necessitates that supervisors dedicate more time to leading people than in the traditional work setting (Keilty and Burke, 2022; Kirchner, Ipsen, and Hansen, 2021). Furthermore, the Army modernization effort requires the organization set the conditions for innovation and creative thinking throughout the workforce (U.S. Department of the Army, 2019a). AvMC first-line supervisors must dedicate time to create this culture while staffing or developing personnel with the necessary competencies and capabilities. Despite the demands placed upon first-line supervisors in this environment, the AvMC needs strong technical leadership to provide technical expertise and oversight in support of programs. The study recommends that the AvMC address both the need for supervisors to spend more time on leading people and the need for strong technical leadership using training and DB-03 Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) empowered with technical authority.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 05, 2023
Accession Number
AD1201838

Entities

People

  • Ross H. Armstrong

Organizations

  • Defense Acquisition University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Control Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Human Systems Integration
  • Law
  • Management Personnel
  • Military Acquisition
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Resource Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.