Control – The GPS of Management! 📍
Myth: Control means "restricting" people (like a strict parent). Reality: Control means "guiding" people to the goal (like a GPS).
Analogy:
- Plan: "Drive to Mumbai in 10 hours."
- Action: You start driving.
- Control: You check Google Maps. "Oh no, traffic! I am 1 hour late."
- Corrective Action: "Drive faster" or "Take a shortcut."
Definition: Ensuring that activities are performed according to plans.
The Control Process (4 Steps) 🔄
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Step 1: Setting Standards 📏
- The Benchmark. (e.g., "Sales target = ₹10 Lakhs").
Step 2: Measuring Performance 🧐
- The Reality Check. (e.g., "Actual Sales = ₹8 Lakhs").
Step 3: Comparing Actual with Standard ⚖️
- Find the Deviation.
- Negative Deviation: -₹2 Lakhs (Bad).
- Positive Deviation: +₹2 Lakhs (Good... but why? Maybe we set the target too low?).
Step 4: Taking Corrective Action 🛠️
- If the deviation is small (within tolerance), ignore it.
- If it's big, ACT! (Repair machine, scold lazy worker, change price).
Planning and Controlling are Twins
Planning looks forward (Setting the goal). Controlling looks backward (Checking the result). Planning without Control is useless. Control without Planning is impossible.
Quiz Time! 🎯
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💡 Final Wisdom: "Trust is good, but Control is better. Don't just hope for the best, CHECK if it's happening!" ✅
Next up: Techniques of Control - How do we measure? Budgeting, Auditing, and more! 📊