Final answer:
The purpose of shadowing a department supervisor is to learn about others' work, how it fits into the organization, and evaluate job appeal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a new associate shadowing a department supervisor is to learn about the type of work others do, discover how their roles fit into the organization, and understand how it relates to the new associate's own job.
Shadowing provides an opportunity for the new associate to observe someone working in their field of interest, allowing them to gain a better sense of whether the job appeals to them. Additionally, it allows the new associate to ask questions and learn from the person doing the job, similar to an informational interview.