Management Control Systems

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There are many different types of control that can be established in an organization depending on its goals and objectives. There are many different approaches to the management controlling function. Some of these control systems are bureaucratic control, market control and clan control. All of these control systems focuses on a different part of the business depend ending the necessities of the organization in that moment. All of the control systems have their advantages and disadvantages.

The controlling function is defined as any process that directs the activities of

individuals toward the achievement of organizational goals*. The controlling function is the one that set the game rules. This function set the organizational standards rules and norms. The controlling function works hand to hand with the planning function because the controls are the ones that ensure that the plans are fulfilled. The established controls must go in coherence with the plans because the success of each will depend on the other. The control function not only control the personnel it also control things as , budget, organizational resources, machinery, materials or components, physical structure and more. The control process must set performance standards, measure performance, compare performance with the standards; and take corrective action if needed in order to be effective

One of the most used control systems is the bureaucratic control system. The bureaucratic control system Bureaucratic control is defined as the use of rules, regulations, and formal authority to guide performance*. The bureaucratic control system is a very rigid and formal one. This system establishes a well defined set of rules and procedures in order to achieve the organizational goals and objectives. This system is based on hierarchy were roles and authority has been well defined. This control system involves personnel close monitoring, supervision and direction of subordinates by superiors. The bureaucratic control different uses tools as budget as a control device, management audits, external audits, and internal audits.

The market control system is based on the use of pricing mechanisms and economic information to regulate activities within organizations*. This control system is based in external factors that affects an organization rather than the internal factors.

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...n reaction of the implementation of this system. This tactical behavior is defined as the beating the system behavior. This can be harmful to an organization because employees can start to report false information. This will have bad consequences to the organization because it will provide wrong information for the forecasting and planning of future organizational goals and objectives.

Controlling can also produce a resistance to control reaction because Control systems usually uncover mistakes, threaten people’s job security and status, and decrease people’s autonomy it can also change the organizational structures and the authority chain of command. It can also disrupt the social relations of a group.

In order to develop a system functional system for an organization the best decision is to make a hybrid one. Not only taking the organizational objectives in consideration but also taking in consideration the employees and the external and internal factors that affects all of the organization.

References

Bateman-Snell: Management: The NewCompetitive Landscape,Sixth Edition chapter 16

James Higgins, The Management Challenge, Second Edition, Macmillan, 1994

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