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Characteristics of an effective control system

lecture notes on the characteristics of an effective control system
Course

Management Principles

12 Documents
Students shared 12 documents in this course
University

Damelin

Academic year: 2020/2021
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Characteristics of an Effective Control Systems

Controls at every level focus on inputs, processes and outputs. It is very important to have effective controls at each of these three stages.

Effective control systems tend to have certain common characteristics. The importance of these characteristics varies with the situation, but in general effective control systems have following characteristics.

  1. Accuracy:

Effective controls generate accurate data and information. Accurate information is essential for effective managerial decisions. Inaccurate controls would divert management efforts and energies on problems that do not exist or have a low priority and would fail to alert managers to serious problems that do require attention.

  1. Timeliness:

There are many problems that require immediate attention. If information about such problems does not reach management in a timely manner, then such information may become useless and damage may occur. Accordingly controls must ensure that information reaches the decision makers when they need it so that a meaningful response can follow.

  1. Flexibility:

The business and economic environment is highly dynamic in nature. Technological changes occur very fast. A rigid control system would not be suitable for a changing environment. These changes highlight the need for flexibility in planning as well as in control.

Strategic planning must allow for adjustments for unanticipated threats and opportunities. Similarly, managers must make modifications in controlling methods, techniques and systems as they become necessary. An effective control system is one that can be updated quickly as the need arises.

  1. Acceptability:

Controls should be such that all people who are affected by it are able to understand them fully and accept them. A control system that is difficult to understand can cause unnecessary mistakes and frustration and may be resented by workers.

Accordingly, employees must agree that such controls are necessary and appropriate and will not have any negative effects on their efforts to achieve their personal as well as organizational goals.

  1. Integration:

When the controls are consistent with corporate values and culture, they work in harmony with organizational policies and hence are easier to enforce. These controls become an integrated part of the organizational environment and thus become effective.

  1. Economic feasibility:

The cost of a control system must be balanced against its benefits. The system must be economically feasible and reasonable to operate. For example, a high security system to safeguard nuclear secrets may be justified but the same system to safeguard office supplies in a store would not be economically justified. Accordingly the benefits received must outweigh the cost of implementing a control system.

  1. Strategic placement:

Effective controls should be placed and emphasized at such critical and strategic control points where failures cannot be tolerated and where time and money costs of failures are greatest.

The objective is to apply controls to the essential aspect of a business where a deviation from the expected standards will do the greatest harm. These control areas include production, sales, finance and customer service.

  1. Corrective action:

An effective control system not only checks for and identifies deviation but also is programmed to suggest solutions to correct such a deviation. For example, a computer keeping a record of inventories can be programmed to establish “if-then” guidelines. For example, if inventory of a particular item drops below five percent of maximum inventory at hand, then the computer will signal for replenishment for such items.

  1. Emphasis on exception:

A good system of control should work on the exception principle, so that only important deviations are brought to the attention of management, In other words, management does not have to bother with activities that are running smoothly. This will ensure that managerial attention is directed towards error and not towards conformity. This would eliminate unnecessary and uneconomic supervision, marginally beneficial reporting and a waste of managerial time

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Characteristics of an effective control system

Course: Management Principles

12 Documents
Students shared 12 documents in this course

University: Damelin

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Characteristics of an Effective Control Systems
Controls at every level focus on inputs, processes and outputs. It is very important to have effective
controls at each of these three stages.
Effective control systems tend to have certain common characteristics. The importance of these
characteristics varies with the situation, but in general effective control systems have following
characteristics.
1. Accuracy:
Effective controls generate accurate data and information. Accurate information is essential for
effective managerial decisions. Inaccurate controls would divert management efforts and energies on
problems that do not exist or have a low priority and would fail to alert managers to serious
problems that do require attention.
2. Timeliness:
There are many problems that require immediate attention. If information about such problems does
not reach management in a timely manner, then such information may become useless and damage
may occur. Accordingly controls must ensure that information reaches the decision makers when
they need it so that a meaningful response can follow.
3. Flexibility:
The business and economic environment is highly dynamic in nature. Technological changes occur
very fast. A rigid control system would not be suitable for a changing environment. These changes
highlight the need for flexibility in planning as well as in control.
Strategic planning must allow for adjustments for unanticipated threats and opportunities. Similarly,
managers must make modifications in controlling methods, techniques and systems as they become
necessary. An effective control system is one that can be updated quickly as the need arises.
4. Acceptability:
Controls should be such that all people who are affected by it are able to understand them fully and
accept them. A control system that is difficult to understand can cause unnecessary mistakes and
frustration and may be resented by workers.
Accordingly, employees must agree that such controls are necessary and appropriate and will not
have any negative effects on their efforts to achieve their personal as well as organizational goals.
5. Integration:
When the controls are consistent with corporate values and culture, they work in harmony with
organizational policies and hence are easier to enforce. These controls become an integrated part of
the organizational environment and thus become effective.
6. Economic feasibility:
The cost of a control system must be balanced against its benefits. The system must be economically
feasible and reasonable to operate. For example, a high security system to safeguard nuclear secrets
may be justified but the same system to safeguard office supplies in a store would not be
economically justified. Accordingly the benefits received must outweigh the cost of implementing a
control system.

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