Traditional views of organisational control placed emphasis on …
conformity of activities.
What is the purpose of organisational control?
To bring about conformance to organisational requirements & achieving its ultimate purpose
Control systems are concerned with…
regulation of behaviour
What are some concepts of “process-rational thinking”?
- Those ‘in charge’ aspire to achieve control over work behaviours
- Only partial control can be achieved (control is typically resisted)
- Control over work behaviour is brought about through negotiation, persuasion, manipulation through system ‘devices’ such as policies, rules and official procedures
What is the underlying purpose of management control??
Improved work performance.
What is the purpose of control systems?
To measure how effectively decisions have been translated into results.
What is the largest control system according to Egan?
organisational culture.
What are the 5 stages/activities of an organisational control system?
- Planning – objectives and targets
- Establishing –standards of performance
- Monitoring – actual performance
- Comparing – actual achievement against planned targets
- Rectifying – taking corrective action
Name some forms of control.
- observance of legislation
- organisational structure and role relationships
- the type of production system and use of technology
- measuring inputs, outputs, processes or people’s behaviour
- recruitment, selection, socialisation, training and development
- measuring performance of the organisation as a whole. Total quality control.
- rewards
- feedback
What is meant by “concertive control”?
Control that is not exercised by a manager, but by the value consensus of the team based on a system of normative rules.
I.e. workers form their own culture norms and develop means for their own control.
What are the 6 strategies/types of control according to Child?
- Personal centralised control
- Bureaucratic control
- Output control
- Electronic surveillance
- HRM control
- Cultural control
Name some characteristics of an effective control system.
- They should be understood by those who operate them.
- Draw attention to the critical activities important to organisational success .
- Conform with organisational structure and be related to decision centres responsible for performance .
- Be consistent with the objective of the activity to which it relates .
- Report performance deviations as quickly as possible
- Be flexible .
- Be subject tot a continual review to assure effectiveness and appropriateness.
Define power.
The ability to have control or influence over people’s behaviour with or without their consent.
What are the 2 main sources of managerial stress?
- lack of power
2. office politics
What are the 3 types of authority according to Weber?
- Traditional
- Charismatic
- Legal-rational
What are the 3 types of power according to Etzioni?
- Coercive power (uses theats)
- Remunerative power (manipulates resources/rewards)
- Normative power (manipulates symbolic rewards)
What does Etzioni mean by “involvement”? Name the 3 degrees.
Involvement = the degree of commitment by organisational members.
- Alienative involvement – members are involved against their wishes
2. Calculative involvement – motivated by rewards - Moral involvement – based on belief in organisational values
What types of power go hand-in-hand with what types of involvement (Etzioni)?
- Coercive power + alienative involvement
- Remunerative power + calculative involvement
- Normative power + moral involvement
What 5 sources of power are there according to French & Raven?
- Reward power
- Coercive power
- Legitimate power
- Referent power
- Expert power
Power can also arise from interpersonal sources, which are they?
- personality
- experience - characteristics
- talents
What is meant by “negative powers”?
The ability to stop, delay, distort or disrupt things. This can be exercised by people of all levels
What are the shortcomings of using primarily financial control systems?
They neglect the softer issues such as management style, employee motivation, shared values and corporate culture.
What are some specific behaviours that can exercise influence according to Yukl?
- Rational persuasion – using logical arguments and factual persuasion
- Apprising – explaining personal benefits or career advancement
- Inspiration appeals – to values/ideas or attempt to gain commitment
4. Consultation – seeking support and assistance
5. Exchange – incentives or willingness to reciprocate - Collaboration – providing relevant resources and assistance in exchange for proposed change
- Personal appeals – based on friendship or personal favour
- Ingratiation – use of praise or flattery
- Legitimating tactics – establishing legitimacy or verifying authority
- Pressure – use of demands, threats, frequent checking
11. Coalition tactics – seeking aid/support of others
What is the trade-off when exercising control according to Stewart?
- trying to improve predictability of people’s actions
2. the desirability of encouraging individual and local responsiveness to changing situations
