Explain any three importance and three limitations of Control.

Answer – Importance of controlling

• Accomplishes organisational goals by identifying deviations and keeping activity on course.
• Judges the accuracy of standards by testing whether targets remain realistic in changing conditions.
• Ensures efficient resource use by reducing waste and misuse.
• Improves employee motivation through clear expectations and fair performance evaluation.
• Ensures order and discipline by making acceptable behaviour and responsibility clear.
• Facilitates coordination by aligning departmental activities with common standards and goals.

Control should support improvement. Excessive fault-finding or unsuitable measures can undermine trust and distort performance.

Limitations of controlling

• Difficulty in setting quantitative standards: employee morale, creativity and reputation are not easily expressed in numbers.
• Limited control over external factors: a firm cannot directly control government policy, economic shocks or competitors.
• Employee resistance: intrusive monitoring or unfair measures may be opposed.
• Cost: information systems, supervision and detailed checking require resources; benefits should justify the expenditure.

These limitations call for balanced measures, employee participation and attention to the most important areas rather than abandonment of control.