Organizational Behavior Controls Quiz

Chapter 9: Fundamentals of Control

• This chapter introduces the concept of control in management
• Controlling is the process of measuring performance and taking action to ensure desired results are accomplished and improve performance
• Continuous adjustment is necessary to keep the management process on track
• Controlling ensures that the right things happen in the right way, at the right time
• The benefit of control is organizational learning
• A common example of organizational learning includes after-action-reviews

The Role of Controlling in the Management Process

• Controlling is essential for ensuring desired results
• The controlling process has a positive and necessary role in the management process
• It involves continuous adjustment to ensure things go right
• It makes certain the correct things happen in the right way, at the right time
• The controlling process includes four steps:
  • Establish performance objectives and standards
  • Measure actual performance
  • Compare actual performance with objectives and standards
  • Take necessary action
• Control process steps should be followed in a cyclical pattern

Types of Control

• Feedforward controls: Implemented before a work activity begins to anticipate problems and prevent them
  • Ensuring that objectives are clear, proper directions are established, and correct resources are available
  • Preventative in nature
• Concurrent controls: Occur during the work process to ensure plans are followed
  • Monitor ongoing operations to ensure they are done according to plan and using direct supervision
  • Aims to solve problems as they occur
• Feedback controls: Take place after the work is completed and focuses on the quality of end results
  • Correcting problems after they happen and preventing future ones

Internal and External Control

• Internal controls: Allow motivated individuals and groups to exercise self-discipline and fulfill job expectations.
  • Self-control: Internal control through self-discipline for fulfilling work and personal goals, responsibilities, and self-management.
  • Trust: Important factor in internal control
• External controls: Based on personal supervision or formal administrative systems
  • Bureaucratic control: Influences behavior through authority, policies, procedures, job descriptions, budgets, and daily supervision.
  • Clan control: Influences behavior through norms and expectations from an organizational culture and shared values
  • Market control: Market competition influences organizational behavior and members

Control Tools and Techniques

• Project management: Overall planning, supervision and control of projects.

  • Projects: Unique one-time events occurring within a defined period
  • Gantt chart: Graphic representation of planned tasks in a project
  • CPM/PERT: A combination of Critical Path Method and Program Evaluation and Review Technique techniques used in project management

• Inventory control: Aims to ensure inventory is only as high as required to satisfy immediate needs

  • Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): Determining optimal quantities to order when inventory levels are at a pre-determined point.
  • Just-in-time scheduling (JIT): Route materials to workstations just when they are needed

• Breakeven analysis: Analysis of where revenues equal cost.

  • Breakeven point (BEP): The point where total revenues equal total costs
  • Calculate breakeven point for different conditions

• Financial controls: Basic foundations of Balance Sheets and Income Statement

  • Balance sheet: Show assets, liability, and owner's equity at a given point in time
  • Income statement: Shows profit/loss during a specified period. (e.g., month, quarter, year)

• Balanced Scorecard: Scores (records) the organization's performance in:

  • Financial performance
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Internal process improvement
  • Learning and growth

Test your understanding of various control mechanisms in organizational behavior. This quiz covers topics such as concurrent controls, feedback controls, market controls, and the influence of organizational culture. Challenge yourself with questions designed to deepen your knowledge in management practices.