What is the primary purpose of controlling in management?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: What is the primary purpose of controlling in management?

Option a: 'To increase workload' — This is a common misconception. Controlling does not aim to simply increase tasks or burden employees; it focuses on ensuring performance aligns with plans and standards. Increasing workload is not the fundamental goal of controlling and may harm efficiency if not justified by outputs.

Option b: 'To evaluate performance against standards' — This is the core function of controlling. By comparing actual performance to established standards or targets, management can identify variances, determine if corrective actions are needed, and ensure organizational objectives are being met. This aligns with standard management theory that controlling involves measurement, comparison, and corrective action.

Option c: 'To punish employees' — Punishing employees is not the primary purpose of controlling. While controls may reveal deviations, the intent is corrective improvement and alignment with standards, not punitive measures. Treating controls as a punitive mechanism would undermine motivation and trust.

Option d: 'To reduce employee autonomy' — Controlling aims to guide and align performance, not to micromanage or erode autonomy. Effective controls provide boundaries and feedback while still allowing appropriate decision-making by employees. Reducing autonomy is not a defining or primary purpose of controlling and can be detrimental to motivation and responsiveness.

In summary, understanding the role of controlling as a mechanism to measure performance against predefined standards clarifies why option b is the correct choice, while the other options reflect misinterpretations of what controlling is intended to achieve in management.

What is the primary purpose of controlling in management?

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