Control of Organizational Behavioral
The control of behavior in the organization is valuable by providing an understanding of the results of implementing any changes or innovations. Wheelen et al. (2018) define this procedure as “specifying how something is to be done through policies, rules, standard operating procedures, and orders from a superior” (p. 349). It is worth noting that this type of control can be used with the introduction of other types of monitoring, such as output and input control. The behavioral type of control is valuable because it focuses on activities that generate performance. In other words, it focuses on the employees who are responsible for the effectiveness and success of the applied policy, strategy, or operation.
Standard Practices of Behavioral Control
There are many types of behavioral control, including those that involve monitoring not only employees but also customers of the company. Following company procedures, sales calls to customers, and getting to work on time can be singled out among the most common practices of this measure (Wheelen et al., 2018). Receiving feedback from consumers shows how effectively a change or implementation of a particular transformation was made. This is due to the fact that the organization’s clients are receivers of the results of operations and activities. On the part of the staff, behavior control will allow managers to gain an understanding of the team’s reaction to the strategy or order and to realize the areas for alteration.
Examples of Behavioral Control Standards
When considering examples of behavioral control, it is necessary to mention the most widely used examples, such as the ISO 9000 and 14000 Standards Series on quality and environmental assurance. They were developed and introduced by the International Standards Association of Geneva (Wheelen et al., 2018). They include the main principles of management, which contribute to the definition and documentation of the company’s performance indicators regarding policies and operational procedures.
The primary value of the ISO 9000 Standards Series is the objectivity of the data obtained. Another criterion for these behavior control measures is the documentation of design input, process, output, and verification. Among the advantages that they provide is the preservation of financial resources and dissemination of the focus, values, and mission of the company.
Criteria for Effective Behavioral Control
The use of behavior control includes several essential criteria. First, it is necessary for managers to prepare a list of measures by which this monitoring will be carried out in advance. The next step is to verify that the operation and the order from a superior have sufficient complexity. Too easy control results may not be reliable since it is crucial to study several indicators to gain a complete picture.
It is worth noting that the “cause-effect connection between activities and results must be relatively clear” (Wheelen et al., 2018, p. 349). This criterion is essential to understand which aspects may have inefficiency and which show satisfactory indicators. The control of behavior is valuable for the company as it provides an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of policies, strategies, and operational procedures and gain feedback from employees and customers.
Reference
Wheelen, T. L., Hunger, J. D., Hoffman, A. N., & Bamford, C. E. (2018). Concepts in strategic management and business policy (15th ed.). Pearson Education.