Match the LIST-I with LIST-II
| LIST-I | LIST-II |
| (Concepts related to Controlling) | (Explanation) |
| A. Critical Point Control | I. Benchmarks towards which an organisation strives to work |
| B. Setting Performance Standards | II. A principle of management control based on the belief that an attempt to control everything results in controlling nothing |
| C. Management by Exception | III. Focus on key result areas (KRAs) which are crucial for the success of an organisation |
| D. Controlling | IV. Postmortem of past activities to find out deviations from the standards |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV
(A) Critical Point Control — this matches (III) Focus on key result areas (KRAs) which are crucial for the success of an organisation. Checking every activity is neither cheap nor easy. So control is kept on the few key result areas, where a small deviation can do great harm.
(B) Setting Performance Standards — this matches (I) Benchmarks towards which an organisation strives to work. Standards are the targets against which actual work is later measured. This is the first step of controlling.
(C) Management by Exception — this matches (II) A principle of management control based on the belief that an attempt to control everything results in controlling nothing. Only the significant deviations, those beyond the allowed limit, are brought to the manager’s notice. Small ones are left to the lower levels.
(D) Controlling — this matches (IV) Postmortem of past activities to find out deviations from the standards. Controlling looks back at work already done, which is why it is often called a backward-looking function, while planning looks ahead. That is only part of the picture: what controlling finds out also guides the plans for the future.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “1. Critical Point Control: It is neither economical nor easy to keep a check on each and every activity in an organisation. Control should, therefore, focus on key result areas (KRAs) which are critical to the success of an organisation. …” “2. Management by Exception: Management by exception, which is often referred to as control by exception, is an important principle of management control based on the belief that an attempt to control everything results in controlling nothing. …” “Step 1: Setting Performance Standards: The first step in the controlling process is setting up of performance standards. Standards are the criteria against which actual performance would be measured. Thus, standards serve as benchmarks towards which an organisation strives to work.” “It is often said that planning is looking ahead while controlling is looking back. However, the statement is only partially correct. Plans are prepared for future and are based on forecasts about future conditions. Therefore, planning involves looking ahead and is called a forward-looking function. On the contrary, controlling is like a postmortem of past activities to find out deviations from the standards. …” |