3.1.2 Types of controls 3.1.2.1 Process Control ‘There are three major types of managerial controls — feedforward, concurrent and feedback controls. Each is relevant to a different phase of the organisation’s input-throughput- output cycle of activities. Each offers significant opportunities for actions to be taken that advance organisational productivity and high performance, each offers the opportunity for performance oriented organisational and personal learning through systematic assessment of actions and results, Work inputs Work throughputs Work outputs Feedforward controls Feedback controls Ensure the right directions Ensure that final results are are set and the right resource up to desired standards Fig 3.1.3 Feedforward, concurrent and feedback controls in the management process Feedforward controls Feedforward controls, also called preliminary controls, are accomplished before a work activity begins. They ensure that objectives are clear, that proper directions are established, and that the right resources are available to accomplish them, feedforward controls are preventive in nature. They are designed to eliminate the potential for problems later on in the process by asking an important but often neglected question: what needs to be done before we begin? This is a forward thinking and active approach to control rather than a reactive and defensive one. The quality of resources is a key concem of feedforward controls, Concurrent controls Concurrent controls focus on what happens during the work process. Sometimes called steering controls, they monitor ongoing operations and activities to make sure things are being done according to plan, Ideally, concurrent controls allow corrective actions to be taken before a task is completed. The key question is: What can we do to improve things before we finish? Here, the focus is on quality of activities during the work process. This approach to control can reduce waste in the form of unacceptable finished products or services. Feedback controls Feedback controls, also called post action controls, take place after work is completed. They focus on the quality of end results rather than on inputs and activities. They ask the question: Now that we are finished, how well did we do?