Observing and controlling are on opposite ends of the secretary function.
The secretary function is a model used in organizational behavior to describe the process of selecting the best candidate from a pool of applicants. The model assumes that a decision-maker must choose from a fixed number of candidates in random order, without being able to go back and reconsider candidates that have been passed over. The decision-maker can either accept or reject each candidate, but once a candidate is rejected, they cannot be reconsidered.
In this context, "observing" refers to a decision-making style where the decision-maker takes a passive role and simply observes the candidates as they come, without intervening or taking any action. "Controlling," on the other hand, refers to a decision-making style where the decision-maker takes an active role and tries to control the outcome by setting a high threshold for acceptance and rejecting candidates who do not meet that threshold.
Therefore, observing and controlling are on opposite ends of the secretary function, representing two different decision-making styles that can be used when selecting the best candidate from a pool of applicants.