Control broadly refers to the power or ability to direct, regulate, or manage something. It involves commanding or ruling over a system, process, or group to ensure desired outcomes or maintain order
Definitions of Control
- General Definition: Control means to command, direct, or rule something, such as controlling a country or a machine. It also means to check, limit, or restrain something, like controlling emotions or a fire
- In Management: Control is a management function that involves setting standards, measuring actual performance, and taking corrective actions to ensure organizational goals are met effectively. It is a continuous, proactive process closely linked with planning
- In Science and Statistics: Control refers to maintaining a constant condition or group in an experiment to compare against variables. It also means accounting for variables to reduce confounding factors in data analysis
Characteristics of Control in Management
- Continuous process
- Linked with planning
- Measures actual performance against standards
- Points out errors and takes corrective action
- Minimizes cost and saves time
- Helps monitor performance
Elements of a Control System
- Characteristic or Condition: The aspect of the system to be controlled.
- Sensor: Measures the characteristic.
- Comparator: Compares actual performance with planned standards.
- Activator: Takes corrective action to adjust the system
Summary
Control is essentially the act or power of managing, regulating, or restraining something to achieve desired results or maintain stability. It applies in various contexts including everyday life, management, science, and technology
