Practice Questions

Analyze the importance of setting standards in the same units in which performance will be measured.

Justify the statement that controlling is a backward-looking function of management.

Identify the term used for the criteria against which actual performance is measured in the controlling process.

Analyze how a good control system can improve employee motivation.

Name the principle of management control which states that an attempt to control everything results in controlling nothing.

Examine why an enterprise has little control over external factors like government policies.

Define the term 'Controlling' as a function of management.

Propose one strategy a manager can use to overcome employee resistance to a new control system, such as CCTV monitoring.

List the three levels of management where the controlling function is performed.

Compare planning and controlling on the basis of their forward-looking and backward-looking attributes.

A software development team consistently misses its project deadlines. Formulate a three-point corrective action plan the project manager should implement.

During the 'Analysing Deviations' step, a manager discovers that production targets are consistently missed by all employees despite their best efforts. The process and resources are found to be adequate. Propose the most appropriate corrective action and justify your reasoning.

Explain how a good control system helps in 'judging the accuracy of standards'.

Explain why planning is considered a prerequisite for controlling.

State one reason why controlling is considered a costly affair.

Describe any three limitations of the controlling function in management.

Recall the concept that suggests control should focus on key result areas (KRAs) which are critical to the success of an organisation.

The statement 'planning is looking ahead while controlling is looking back' is only partially correct. Explain this statement.

Demonstrate with an example how controlling helps in 'making efficient use of resources'.

A 15 percent increase in postal charges is noted in a manufacturing organization. Apply the principle of 'Management by Exception' to decide if this requires immediate managerial attention.

Critique the management practice of focusing exclusively on quantitative standards for performance measurement. What potential negative consequences could arise from this approach?

Justify why planning is considered both a forward-looking and a backward-looking function.

Referencing the 'Control Through Computer Monitoring' case, design a broader control system for the import-export company to prevent future embezzlement. Propose at least three control measures beyond just computer monitoring.

Summarize the relationship between planning and controlling, often described as 'inseparable twins'.

Explain the last two steps of the controlling process that are followed after comparing actual performance with standards.

Analyze the statement "Planning is looking ahead while controlling is looking back." Is this statement fully correct? Justify your answer.

A company wants to install CCTV cameras in its factory to monitor employees. Examine the potential limitations the company might face when implementing this control measure.

Contrast the primary nature of planning and controlling, one being prescriptive and the other evaluative.

Analyze why a small enterprise might find it difficult to implement an expensive and elaborate control system, even if it is effective.

Evaluate the argument that controlling is a costly affair and, therefore, impractical for small enterprises. Justify your stance.

Propose three measurable qualitative standards that a luxury hotel could use to control and improve its 'guest experience' quality.

Evaluate how a well-designed control system can positively influence employee motivation.

'Planning is prescriptive, whereas controlling is evaluative.' Justify this statement and explain how this perceived difference actually makes them interdependent and inseparable for effective management.

The text states that an enterprise cannot control external factors like government policies. Evaluate this statement. Can a company formulate strategies to mitigate the impact of these factors?

A fast-food chain is experiencing a decline in customer satisfaction. Apply the steps of the controlling process to demonstrate how the management can address this issue.

Describe the first three steps involved in the controlling process.

A software development company sets a standard for its programmers to write 'high-quality, bug-free code'. Analyze the challenges the company will face in the controlling process, specifically in the steps of 'setting standards' and 'measurement of performance'.

Critique the principle of 'Management by Exception'. Under what circumstances could this principle prove counterproductive for an organization? Propose a modification to mitigate its risks.

Describe the concepts of 'Critical Point Control' and 'Management by Exception' as they are used in analysing deviations.

You are the manager of an e-commerce company that promises next-day delivery. Create a 'Critical Point Control' plan by identifying three Key Result Areas (KRAs) that must be monitored to ensure this promise is met and justify your choices.

A garment manufacturing company found that its labor cost increased by 10 percent against the standard of a 2 percent increase. Demonstrate the last two steps of the controlling process that the manager should follow to address this situation.

A fast-food chain is experiencing a decline in customer satisfaction due to long wait times. Design a five-step controlling process the management could implement to address this issue, proposing specific standards and corrective actions.

Compare and contrast 'Critical Point Control' and 'Management by Exception' as techniques for analyzing deviations in the controlling process. How do they collectively contribute to efficient management?

Examine the dual role of a control system in an organization. How can it simultaneously be a tool for 'ensuring order and discipline' and also a source of 'resistance from employees'?

Explain any five points highlighting the importance of controlling in an organisation.