The success of an annual plan of operations （APO） for a plantation forest management unit （FMU） has great reliance on the capacity of field supervisors who execute it with workers. Foresters＇ perception of skills...The success of an annual plan of operations （APO） for a plantation forest management unit （FMU） has great reliance on the capacity of field supervisors who execute it with workers. Foresters＇ perception of skills and performance levels of field supervisors in charge of chemical weeding operations, which are keys to integrated vegetation management strategies at FMUs, were evaluated through a researcher-administered questionnaire implemented through telephone interviews. The research focussed on chemical weeding, of which implementation quality impacts directly on operational costs, worker safety, negative environmental externalities and crop performance. The study was done to establish capacitation requirements （training needs） for the plantation forest sector in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. The results of the research identified skills gaps and emotional issues that could be addressed through training. Overall, chemical weeding field supervisors （CWFS） were adequately prepared to perform in most key result areas of planning and leadership. They, however, faced considerable challenges in functions related to controlling and organizing work. In all three provinces, the highest levels of performance inadequacy were in safety and team discipline. Some province-associated peculiarities in field supervisor performances were also identified. Remedial action that foresters recommended was related mostly to the need to strengthen technical and workplace culture management skills. It was observed that effective skills development in CWFS would require planned continuous improvement programmes.展开更多
文摘The success of an annual plan of operations （APO） for a plantation forest management unit （FMU） has great reliance on the capacity of field supervisors who execute it with workers. Foresters＇ perception of skills and performance levels of field supervisors in charge of chemical weeding operations, which are keys to integrated vegetation management strategies at FMUs, were evaluated through a researcher-administered questionnaire implemented through telephone interviews. The research focussed on chemical weeding, of which implementation quality impacts directly on operational costs, worker safety, negative environmental externalities and crop performance. The study was done to establish capacitation requirements （training needs） for the plantation forest sector in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. The results of the research identified skills gaps and emotional issues that could be addressed through training. Overall, chemical weeding field supervisors （CWFS） were adequately prepared to perform in most key result areas of planning and leadership. They, however, faced considerable challenges in functions related to controlling and organizing work. In all three provinces, the highest levels of performance inadequacy were in safety and team discipline. Some province-associated peculiarities in field supervisor performances were also identified. Remedial action that foresters recommended was related mostly to the need to strengthen technical and workplace culture management skills. It was observed that effective skills development in CWFS would require planned continuous improvement programmes.
