Question

Explain the importance of controlling in an organisation. What are the problems faced by the organisation in implementing an effective control system?

Answer 1

Controlling is an important and an indispensable function of management. It aims at managing the managerial actions by setting the standards and identifying the deviations of actual performance as against the set standards. It also ensures optimum utilisation of resources while taking corrective measures for the deviations. The following are the factors that highlight the importance of controlling.

(i) Achieving Organisational Goals: Controlling aims at accomplishment of the organisational goals by indicating the deficiencies and the corrective actions which are to be taken. It helps in moving in the right direction for attaining the set organisational objectives.

(ii) Evaluating the Standards: Controlling helps in judging the accuracy of the standards adopted by the management. A good controlling system enables the manager to check whether the set standards are accurate and feasible. It also helps the organisation to review and revise the standards according to the changing business environment.

(iii) Optimum Utilisation of Resources: A continuous control and monitoring helps in the efficient and optimum utilisation of resources. As each work is done according to the set standard, there is less wastage and spoilage of resources.

(iv) Employee Motivation: By exercising effective control, employees get to know well in advance about what is expected from them and the standards against which their performance will be assessed. This motivates them to achieve the assigned targets in a better way. 

(v) Order and Discipline: Efficient controlling helps in creating an atmosphere of order and discipline in the organisation. As the employees are aware of the fact that they are being continuously observed, dishonesty and inefficiency in behaviour is minimised. 

(vi) Promoting Coordination: Pre-determined standards provide a basis for better coordination within various activities. As the departments are made aware of their duties and tasks, controlling promotes coordination among them. Controlling provides unity of direction while ensuring that the organisational objectives are met.

Hence, Controlling is an important function that is performed by all the managers. However, controlling has some limitations. The following points highlight the problems faced by the organisation when implementing an effective controlling system.

(i) Complication While Setting Standards: It is important to set the standards in quantitative terms as well as qualitative terms for better controlling. However, controlling becomes less effective when the standards are defined in qualitative terms. Qualitative standards make the evaluation of the performance and the comparison of actual work with the standards, a complicated task. Thus, it might pose a problem in the process of controlling.

(ii) External Factors: Business environment keeps on changing and the organisation have very little control over such external factors. These factors might create hurdles in effective controlling. Such factors can be in the form of change in government policies, environmental changes, competition, etc.

(iii) Resistance from Employees: Controlling can be resisted by the employees if it goes against their comfort zone and freedom. For instance, if the managers set a defined quantity for production as a standard and if the workers take it as unrealistic, then they can go on strike.

(iv) Expensive Process: Effective controlling is a costly affair in terms of time, money and effort. For example, setting up of CCTVs involves a lot of costs. Thus, it may not be possible for a small organisation to set up such system. Thereby, the managers should ensure that the costs incurred in operating such controlling systems do not exceed the benefits derived from it