Explain the various steps involved in the process of control.
Or
Explain the process of controlling.
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“Comparing the actual performance with laid standard, finding out deviations and taking corrective action is an important process of a function of management”. Name and explain the process.
Or
“Control requires a systematic process”. Explain this statement.
Or
“Control does not require any process”. Comment.
Or
‘Controlling is a systematic process involving a series of steps’. Explain.
Or
A production incharge was given a standard toy-train. He was asked to produce similar other toy-trains. What control process would he follow?

Following are the steps of controlling process:

(i) Setting Performance Standards: The first step of controlling is to set performance standards. Standards are those criteria on the basis of which the actual performance is measured. Only standards tell individuals and departments about their destination. A manager evaluates the actual performance on the basis of these standards and finds out the deviations.

(ii) Measurement of Actual Performance: The second step in the controlling process is the measurement of actual performance. The measurement of actual performance is done on the basis of predetermined standards. The measurement of actual performance tells the manager whether the work has been done according to the plan or not.

(iii) Comparison of Actual Performance with Standards: At this step, actual performance is compared with the standards and deviations are found out.

(iv) Analysing Deviations: At this stage, deviations are analysed. In the analysis of deviations, following things are studied:

(a) Is standard being attained? If yes, nothing is needed to be done. The work will continue as usual, the actual performance will be measured and remaining process will be completed. Contrary to this, if the standard could not be achieved, answer to the next question will have to be found.

(b) Is deviation acceptable? If the actual performance is below the standard, but the deviation is acceptable (meaning thereby that the deviation is not so serious that it needs corrective action) nothing is to be done and the work will go on as usual. Contrary to this, if the deviation is not acceptable, answer to the next question will have to be found.

(c) Is standard acceptable? If the standard is acceptable which means that nothing is wrong with it, the cause of deviation will be located. After this, corrective action will be taken and the work will progress. Contrary to this, if the standard already fixed is found to be wrong, answer to the next question will have to be found.

(d) Revising the standard: If the standard is found to be wrong, it will have to be refixed. Thus, a new standard will be set, actual performance will be measured and process will continue.

(v) Taking Corrective Action: The last but the most important step in the controlling process is taking corrective action. By now the deviations and their causes are known. Now is the turn of removing the hurdles in the actual work progress. The purpose of corrective action is to bring the actual work progress to the level of expected progress.