foundations of control

Question 1

what is control?

Answer 1

control is a management function that involves monitoring activities to ensure that they’re being accomplished as planned and correcting any significant deviations.

Question 2

control process

Answer 2

1. measuring actual performance
2. comparing actual performance against a standard
3. taking managerial action to correct deviations or to address inadequate standards.

Question 3

sources of information for measuring performance

Answer 3

• personal observation
• statistical reports
• oral reports
• written reports

Question 4

criteria for management

Answer 4

• direct the activities of others
• employee satisfaction
• turnover and absenteeism rates
• budgets
• costs
• production rates

Question 5

what is range of variation?

Answer 5

the acceptable parameters of variance between actual performance and a standard.

Question 6

immediate corrective action plan

Answer 6

corrective action that addresses problems at once to get performance back on track

Question 7

Basic corrective action

Answer 7

corrective action that looks at how and why performance deviated before correcting the source of deviation

Question 8

what should a manger control?

Answer 8

management can implement controls before an activity commences, during the activity or after the activity has been completed
before= feedforward control (input)
during= concurrent control (process)
after= feedback control (output)

Question 9

in what areas might managers need control?

Answer 9

two ways

• as a tool to help them control other organisational activities
• as an organisational area they need to control

Question 10

what is management information systems?

Answer 10

a system used to provide management with needed information on a regular basis

Question 11

balanced scorecard approach

Answer 11

a way to evaluate organisational performance from more than just the financial perspective. traditionally a balanced scorecard looked at four areas that contribute to a company’s performance:

• financial
• customer
• internal processes
• people/ innovation/ growth assets

Question 12

what is feedback control

Answer 12

control that takes place after work activity is done

Question 13

two advantages of feedback control

Answer 13

• feedback gives managers meaningful information on how effective their planning efforts were
• feedback can enhance motivation

Question 14

what contemporary control issues do managers confront?

Answer 14

1. employee performance
2. cultural differences
3. workplace technology
4. employee theft
5. workplace conflict

Question 15

positive feedback on the employee

Answer 15

likely to be given promptly and enthusiastically and lift the performance of employee

Question 16

negative feedback on the employee

Answer 16

managers fear offending so is treated carefully often avoided.
both kinds of feedback can be valuable in controlling employee performance