Explain the importance of controlling in an organisation. What are the problems faced by the organisation in implementing an effective control system?
Controlling is an indispensable function of management. Controlling refers to the process of measurement of performance according to standards, measuring deviations and taking corrective action to achieve predetermined goals. Following are the factors that highlighted the importance of controlling:
Accomplishing Organisational Goals: It measures progress towards the organisational goals and find out deviations. In the absence of control system, activities may not be carried out according to plans. Thus, we can say, it guides the organisation and keeps it on the right track, so that it can attain its goals.
Judging Accuracy of Standards: Through an effective control system, managers can easily judge the accuracy of standards. It also keeps a careful check on the changes taking place in the organisation and in the environment, which facilitates the review of standards, in the light of such changes.
Making Efficient Use of Resources: By exercising control, a manager seeks to reduce wastage and spoilage of resources. Each activity is performed in accordance with predetermined standards and norms, which helps in effective and efficient utilization of resources.
Improving Employees Motivation: It helps employees in realising, what they are expected to do and what are the standards of performance, on the basis of which they are appraised. This motivates them to perform better.
Ensuring Order and Discipline: By keeping a check on the activities of the workers, controlling creates an atmosphere of order and discipline among them. It also helps to keep a check on the dishonest behaviour of employees.
Facilitating Coordination in Action: It provides direction to all activities and each department and employees is governed by predetermined standards, which helps in establishing coordination among them.
The problems faced by the organisation in implementing an effective control system are:
Difficulty in setting Quantitative Standards: Control system is effective when standards are defined in quantitative terms. But in some cases, like employee morale, job satisfaction, etc, it is not possible to set quantitative standards. In the absence of these standards, measurement and comparison becomes difficult.
Little Control on External Factors: There are certain external factors like change in government policies, technological changes, competition, etc, which are beyond the control of the organisation. Thus, controlling such factors becomes difficult.
Resistance from Employees: Employees often resist control as they consider it as restriction or boundation on their freedom. e.g. employees might resist working under close supervision of CCTV’s and cameras.
Costly Affair: Control is a costly affair as it involves a lot of expenditure, time and effort. A small firm cannot afford to install an expensive control system. The cost of control system should not exceed the benefits derived from it.
Explain the techniques of managerial control.
‘Planning is looking ahead and controlling is looking back.’ Comment.
Write a short note on budgetary control as a technique of managerial control.
Mr Shantanu is a chief manager of a reputed company that manufactures garments. He called the production manager and instructed him to keep a constant and continuous check on all the activities related to his department so that everything goes as per the set plan. He also suggested him to keep a track of the performance of all the employees in the organisation so that targets are achieved effectively and efficiently.
a. Describe any two features of Controlling highlighted in the above situation.(Goal Oriented, continuous and pervasive – any 2).
b. Explain any four points of importance of Controlling.
Explain the various steps involved in the process of control.
Mr.Arfaaz had been heading the production department of Writewell Products Ltd., a firm manufacturing stationary items. The firm secured an export order that had to be completed on a priority basis and production targets were defined for all the employees. One of the workers, Mr. Bhanu Prasad, fell short of his daily production target by 10 units for two days consecutively. Mr. Arfaaz approached MsVasundhara, the CEO of the Company, to file a complaint against MrBhanu Prasad and requested her to terminate his services. Explain the principle of management control that MsVasundhara should consider while taking her decision. (Hint: Management by exception).
A company ‘M’ limited is manufacturing mobile phones both for domestic Indian market as well as for export. It had enjoyed a substantial market share and also had a loyal customer following. But lately it has been experiencing problems because its targets have not been met with regard to sales and customer satisfaction. Also mobile market in India has grown tremendously and new players have come with better technology and pricing. This is causing problems for the company. It is planning to revamp its controlling system and take other steps necessary to rectify the problems it is facing.
a. Identify the benefits the company will derive from a good control system.
b. How can the company relate its planning with control in this line of business to ensure that its plans are actually implemented and targets attained.
c. Give the steps in the control process that the company should follow to remove the problems it is facing.
Discuss the relationship between planning and controlling.
Give any two standards that can be used by a company to evaluate the performance of its Finance & Accounting department.
Name the principle that a manager should consider while dealing with deviations effectively. State any one situation in which an organisation’s control system loses its effectiveness.
How does planning provide direction?
What is meant by staffing?
Identify the network of social relationships which arises spontaneously due to interaction at work.
What is informal communication?
What is meant by capital structure?v
What is meant by management?
What is a Treasury Bill?
State any two advantages of branding to marketers of goods and services?
What makes principles of management flexible?
Under which consumer right does a business firm set up consumer grievance cell?
State any two causes of fatigue that may create hindrance in the employee’s performance.
Explain the redressal mechanism available to consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
Identify the network of social relationships which arises spontaneously due to interaction at work.
What are the external sources of recruitment? Discuss their advantages.
State the impact of demonetization on interest rates, private wealth and real estate.
(Further information related to the above question 6) The management of company Bhasin Limited now realised its folly. In order to rectify the situation it appointed a management consultant -Mukti Consultants - to recommend a restructure plan to bring the company back on the rails. Mukti Consultants undertook a study of the production process at the plant of the company Bhasin Limited and recommended the following changes —
• The company should introduce scientific management with regard to production.
• Production Planning including routing, scheduling, dispatching and feedback should be implemented.
• In order to separate planning from operational management ’Functional foremanship’ should be introduced.
• ‘Work study’ should be undertaken to optimise the use of resources.
• ‘Standardisation’ of all activities should be implemented to increase efficiency and accountability.
• To motivate the workers ‘Differential Piece Rate System’ should be implemented.
(The above changes should be introduced apart from the steps recommended as an answer to Part c - case problem 6 above.) It was expected that the changes will bring about a radical transformation in the working of the company and it will regain its pristine glory.
a. Do you think that introduction of scientific management as recommended by M consultants will result in intended outcome?
b. What precautions should the company undertake to implement the changes?
c. Give your answer with regard to each technique separately as enunciated in points 1 through 6 in the case problem.
A company, Xylo limited, is setting up a new plant in India for manufacturing auto components. India is a highly competitive and cost effective production base in this sector. Many reputed car manufacturers source their auto components from here. Xylo limited is planning to capture about 40% of the market share in India and also export to the tune of at least ` 50 crores in about 2 years of its planned operations. To achieve these targets it requires a highly trained and motivated work force. You have been retained by the company to advise it in this matter. While giving answers keep in mind the sector the company is operating.
Questions:
a. Outline the process of staffing the company should follow.
b. Which sources of recruitment the company should rely upon. Give reasons for your recommendation.
c. Outline the process of selection the company should follow with reasons.
Planning reduces creativity. Critically comment.(Hint: both the points - Planning promotes innovative ideas and planning reduces creativity – will be given).
Why is management considered to be a multi-dimensional concept?
What economic changes were initiated by the Government under the Industrial Policy, 1991? What impact have these changes made on business and industry?