Discuss the concepts of “control” and “organizational control
Control in Organizations
“As I’ve progressed in my career, I’ve come to appreciate – and really value – the other attributes that define a company’s success beyond the P&L: great leadership, long-term financial strength, ethical business practices, evolving business strategies, sound governance, powerful brands, values-based decision-making.” Ursula Burns
“Organizational control” is a term that describes how an organization uses its policies and practices as well as its reward (and punishment) systems to align the goals and behaviors of its workers with the goals and objectives of the organization. In most organizations, the control function involves four aspects: the development and communication of standards, the measurement of performance, the comparison of performance to the standards, and the development of actions to correct or enhance performance.
“Control” is the study of how to improve the effectiveness and the efficiency of how organizational goals are achieved. It is a process of objective measurement and critical review and of improvement through human resource management, creative problem solving, and organizational change.
Readings:
Read chapter 15 in the text.
Also of Interest:
Ahlstrom, D. (2010). Innovation and growth: How business contributes to society. Academy of Management Perspectives, 24(3), 11-24.
O’Reilly, C. (1989). Corporations, culture, and commitment: Motivation and social control in organizations. California Management Review, 31(4), 9-25.
