Leadership & Management Discussion for Lesson 10: Foundations of Control

Lesson 10 Reading Objectives 1. The student will comprehend the concept of control. 2. The student will comprehend the two approaches to control. 3. The student will comprehend why control is important. 4. The student will comprehend the differences between the two types of control. 5. The student will comprehend the qualities of an effective control system.

Lesson 10 Discussion Objectives 1. The student will comprehend the concept of Control. 2. The student will comprehend why Control is important. 3. The student will comprehend the qualities of an effective Control System. 4. The student will apply Control to him/herself.

Concept of Control  Process of monitoring activities to ensure they are being accomplished as planned and of correcting any significant deviations. Entails taking corrective action to fix a problem or correct a deviation in performance. Entails taking corrective action to fix a problem or correct a deviation in performance. Actual performance is compared to the performance against a standard and significant deviations are corrected. Actual performance is compared to the performance against a standard and significant deviations are corrected.

Approaches to Control  There are two approaches to designing organizational Control Systems: - Bureaucratic Control - Clan Control  Most organizations do not rely solely on one of these approaches

Bureaucratic Control  Emphasizes organizational authority  Relies upon: - Administrative Rules - Regulations - Procedures - Policies - Standardization

Clan Control  Emphasizes employee behaviors that are regulated by the following: - Shared Values - Norms - Traditions - Rituals - Beliefs

Importance of Control  Control monitors whether objectives are being accomplished as planned and delegated authority is being properly used: Serves as the final link in the functional chain of management Serves as the final link in the functional chain of management Provides feedback on performance of subordinates to whom delegated authority has been granted Provides feedback on performance of subordinates to whom delegated authority has been granted

Types of Control

Qualities of an Effective Control System  Accuracy  Timeliness  Economy  Flexibility  Understandability  Reasonable criteria  Strategic placement  Emphasis on the exception  Multiple criteria  Corrective action

The Control Process  Measuring - Personal Observation - Statistical Reports - Oral Reports - Written Reports  What we measure is more important than how we measure.

The Control Process (Cont.)  Comparing - Determines the Degree of Variation between actual performance and the between actual performance and the standard standard - Range of Variation is the acceptable parameter of variance between actual parameter of variance between actual performance and the standard performance and the standard

The Control Process (Cont.)  Managerial Action: 1. Correct the Action - Immediate corrective action – change activity at once to get performance back on track - Basic corrective action – determine why performance deviated and correct the source of deviation 2. Revise the Standard - May be set too high - May be set too low

Concepts of Control in Personal Life  Discuss how concepts of Control may be used in personal life.

“It’s Your Ship”  Think Critically!!!  There is always another side to the story!  Many good points and successes  CDR Abrashoff is a consultant  “It’s Your Ship” is a marketing tool  Not team-oriented  Make up your own mind  What potential problems do you see?  Now, the other side of the story…

That’s The Way We’ve Always Done It!  Tradition supports excellence and creates community  The Navy/Marine Corps Culture  Bad habits do not support excellence  Leadership is not blind  TTTWWADI is an excuse, not justification  Do not accept TTWWADI

Currahee  Captain Sobel: - Poor Communicator - Unrealistic Expectations - Ego-Centric - Sadistic  Effective? - Unwittingly developed team cohesion - Many credit him with their survival

Band of Brothers

Next Class  Personality and Reflection as a Leadership Tool  Read: Leadership and Management, Chapter 11

Summary  Control ensures planned activities are accomplished and significant deviations are corrected  Serves to monitor whether objectives are being accomplished and delegated authority is being properly used  Effective control systems are accurate, timely, economical, flexible, understandable, use reasonable criteria, have strategic placement, emphasize the exception, use multiple criteria and suggest corrective action.

Questions? ???