Unit 8. Controlling The Business of Management – Program 18 Test on the video film

A. Previewing task.

Task I. Before watching the film, make sure you know the following words and word combinations:

the concept of control monitoring, measuring and reporting business events to keep the organization on the right track to organize control activity effective / faulty control systems financial controls inventory controls quality controls preventative controls diagnostic and therapeutic controls feedback controls feed forward controls

to provide feedback to revise budgets and alter plans employee evaluation forms to detect positive and negative deviations to take corrective actions to end results to be costly in terms of both time and money to be an invaluable tool modeling mathematical models mathematical equations

B. While watching.

Task II. Make these expressions sound true:

1. For most of us the term “control” suggests assistance, the specter of big brother, and command.

2. Control has much to do with gathering information – that is: motivating, stimulating and reporting business events in order to achieve objectives.

3. The function of control in management is to keep the organization on the right track by gathering information about established standards.

4. Control systems deny feedback about performance expectations outlined in management’s original plan.

5. There are three kinds of control systems: management controls, inventory controls, and quantity controls.

Task III. Tick the basic steps that control systems are typically designed around:

1. make up plans;

2. motivate subordinates;

3. establish standards;

4. measure and compare performance against the standards;

5. evaluate employees;

6. help the staff to communicate efficiently;

7. take corrective action.

Task IV. It is known that management theorists traditionally divide controls into three categories, differentiated by the time frame within which they take place. What are they?

Task V. Complete these statements using the phrases from the video:

1. There are some areas that need control. The first is financial control. Another area that requires control is …

2. Control systems are vital aspects of any business. But if they are not carefully thought out, they can be quite …

3. If the control system … , it can be an invaluable tool in any organization.

4. An effective control system ensures that the organization is both …

5. … can inhibit the success of an organization.

Task VI. Translate the following sentences into Russian:

1. Actually, the term “control” was originally used to refer to the accounting practice of verifying payments and accounts against a duplicate register.

2. The major purpose of an effective control system is to produce behavior of the managers of the various parts of a company, which is in some way consistent with, and supportive of, the overall goals of the company and which lets the company achieve its objectives.

3. The purpose of a performance appraisal is to give feedback to the employee on how he or she has performed during that period of time and then, most importantly, what to do about improvement and development and growth and future contribution to the organization.

4. The goal of any control system is to make a positive contribution to an organization.

5. There are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration in designing a control system. Does the organization understand the purpose and intended use of the system? Is the control system designed to provide significant rather than trivial measurements? Is the control system accurate? Does it give managers information upon which to act within a reasonable time frame?

C. Follow-up activity.

Task VII. Give a brief summary of the film using the key expressions from the previous activities.