Question

Which of the following statements is true about the first step of the control process?

A. It involves identification of key results that one wants to accomplish, by the performance objectuves
B. It first involves the identification of the standards of measureing performance and then the identification of key results
C. It identifies the point where output standards and input standards are used to carefully document results
D. It involves relative comparisons that benchmark performance against that being achieved by other people, work units, or organizations
E. It focuses attention on substaintial differences between actual and desired performance

Answer 1

The first step of the control process is setting standards against which actual performance will be measured. This step includes identifying unknown quantities and creating a written list, and determining criteria and constraints to evaluate quality and performance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The first step of the control process in a business context typically involves setting standards or benchmarks that will be used to measure actual performance. This step is crucial as it lays the foundation for evaluating whether the business is on track to achieve its goals. Standards can be related to various aspects of performance, such as quality, time, cost, or customer satisfaction.

Within this initial step, it is also essential to identify the unknown quantities that need to be measured and to create a written list of these measures. It involves determining what needs to be controlled and establishing clear performance standards. The identification of criteria and constraints plays a significant role in this process, as these are used to evaluate the quality of the business's output and processes. Criteria are the measurable values that allow for comparison across different performances, while constraints are the conditions that must be met during the process.

Once the standards are established, the next steps in the control process include the actual measurement of performance, comparison with the set standards, and taking corrective action if there are significant differences between the planned and actual performance. Hence, while statement C reflects elements of setting standards and documenting results, statement E refers more closely to later stages of the process where focus shifts to addressing performance discrepancies.