What is Frontline Management?
Frontline management can probably be best described as the first level of management, that is, the level of management that oversees or manages the actual doing of work.
Frontline managers often reports to middle management although in many organisations they may report directly to senior management. Titles of frontline managers include:
- coordinators
- team leaders
- supervisors
- forepersons
- autonomous staff
- leading hands
- project managers
- office managers
Decisions made by frontline managers have a direct impact on productivity and workplace relations. A poor frontline management decision can have serious ramifications for an organisation, in terms of profitability, relationships with clients and workplace morale.
Frontline managers across a wide range of industries require knowledge, skills and understanding to enable them to manage their own performance and that of others, as well as the important operations relating to their work.
Frontline management development is aimed at ensuring that frontline managers are equipped to meet not only existing organisation performance and productivity goals, but also the challenges of the future.
How can Frontline Management benefit me and my organisation?
The Frontline Management Initiative (FMI) is practical. It focuses on the concept of workplace learning, rather than external training.
The results are more applicable to the workplace, and thus more meaningful to organisations and to individuals. Goals to be achieved are placed within the context of overall goals of the organisation.
In addition, competencies can be customised to suit a particular industry, so that they can be more applicable to that industry.
How are Frontline Management competencies achieved?
The majority of evidence you will need will come from the job you are already performing!
Your assessor will advise and assist you in the completion of your portfolio and will, where necessary, provide you with workplace projects to satisfy the qualification. The assessment consists of the “paper based” evidence along with interviews and self and manager assessment.
More information about the content of the qualifications can be found at
FMI Accredited Training.
Reference: Frontline Focus: Implementing the Frontline Management Initiative, Australian National Training Authority, 1998.
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