Supervisor Diary: Should We Dig Deeper or Just Fix It?
- Myeonghwa Kong
- Nov 22, 2025
- 1 min read
In the middle of a busy shift, managers often ask me relentless questions: “Who did this?”, “Why did it happen?”, “Who handled this task before?” At first, I thought, shouldn’t we just announce a new process to everyone and move on? Isn’t that faster than chasing every detail?
Tracing the Cause
Even though I’m already overwhelmed, I realised that assigning tasks myself means I usually remember who was involved. I follow up with the person responsible, identify the root cause, and implement improvements. It’s like a dual-layered fix: correct the original mistake and introduce a better process for the future. It requires attention to detail and a good memory, but addressing the root of the problem is far more efficient than simply telling everyone “do it this way next time”—because now we understand why the previous approach failed and can prevent repeat mistakes.
The Payoff of Thoroughness
At the moment, this approach feels exhausting. It’s a pile-on: solve multiple issues at once while managing daily operations. But in the long run, it reduces errors, streamlines future workflows, and ultimately makes life easier. If you want problems solved once and for all, a proper investigation is essential. Cutting corners may feel tempting, but thoroughness is the shortcut to lasting efficiency.
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