Identify the function of management that checks whether decisions have been translated into desired action.

Controlling

The correct answer is option (4) : Controlling.

The function of management that checks whether decisions have been translated into desired action is Controlling.

Controlling involves monitoring and evaluating the performance of the organization to ensure that it aligns with the planned objectives and taking corrective actions if necessary. This function helps ensure that decisions made during the planning phase are effectively implemented and that the organization is on the right track to achieve its goals. Planning is clearly a prerequisite for controlling. It is utterly foolish to think that controlling could be accomplished without planning. Without planning there is no predetermined understanding of the desired performance. Planning seeks consistent, integrated and articulated programmes while controlling seeks to compel events to conform to plans. Planning is basically an intellectual process involving thinking, articulation and analysis to discover and prescribe an appropriate course of action for achieving objectives. Controlling, on the other hand, checks whether decisions have been translated into desired action. Planning is thus, prescriptive whereas, controlling is evaluative.