Explain any two relationship between Planning and Controlling.
Answer – Controlling ensures that activities conform to plans by comparing actual performance with standards and correcting significant deviations. It is goal oriented, pervasive, continuous and closely linked with planning. It looks backward at completed performance and forward by improving future action.
Planning sets objectives and standards; controlling measures results against them. Without planning, control has no basis for comparison. Without controlling, managers cannot know whether plans are being implemented effectively.
Both are forward looking and backward looking. Planning uses past experience to choose future action. Controlling studies past performance but uses corrective action to improve future results.
Basis | Planning | Controlling |
Main task | Decide objectives and action in advance. | Compare results, analyse deviations and correct action. |
Role in the cycle | Provides targets and standards. | Provides feedback for implementation and revised plans. |
They are therefore inseparable and interdependent, not opposing activities.