.

Explanation:

Overall explanation

Below you will find how you can plan and draft the essay. Remember this is an example of one way

you could approach the question. At Level 6 the questions are much more open so your response

may be completely different and that's okay.

Essay Plan

Introduction – what is control?

1) Direct control – issuing orders, direct supervision, can lead to resentment

2) Bureaucracy – clear definitions, standardisation and processes

3) Influencing – bring a person’s values in line with the values of the organisation

4) Social / Cultural – encourage people to conform by changing the norms of the organisation

5) KPIs – individuals are evaluated to set standards

Conclusion – leader should use a variety of methods

Example Essay

Control in leadership refers to the processes, strategies, and mechanisms that leaders use to

regulate, guide, and manage the activities and behaviours of individuals or groups within an

organization. Effective control helps leaders ensure that the organization operates efficiently,

achieves its goals, and adheres to its values and standards. This essay will discuss a variety of

methods that a leader can use to exercise control.

1) Direct Control:

Direct control is a leadership method where leaders issue explicit orders and closely supervise tasks,

often making decisions without significant input from others. For example in a manufacturing

company, a supervisor instructs workers on the assembly line to follow a specific sequence of tasks

and closely monitors their work to ensure compliance. The advantage to this method is that tasks are

executed as instructed, resulting in predictable outcomes and that expectations and roles are well-

defined, which reduces ambiguity. However this method of control can lead to resentment,

decreased motivation, and a lack of autonomy among team members. Team members may be less

inclined to propose innovative solutions or take initiative when micromanaged.

2) Bureaucracy:

Bureaucracy is a method of control characterized by clear definitions, standardized processes, and

established rules and procedures within an organization. Government agencies often operate within

a bureaucratic framework, where specific rules and regulations guide decision-making and

operations. The advantage of this form of control is that it ensures decisions and actions align with

established rules and procedures. It also promotes equal treatment of individuals within the

organization. The disadvantage is that Bureaucratic structures may struggle to adapt to changing

circumstances and hinder organizational agility. Moreover, excessive bureaucracy can lead to

administrative burdens and create barriers to efficient decision-making.

3) Influencing:

Influencing is a control method focused on aligning an individual's values, beliefs, and behaviours

with those of the organization. It encourages voluntary compliance. An example of this is a manager

motivating their team to meet sales targets by emphasizing the benefits of achieving those goals for

both the company and individual team members. This form of control can be highly effective as it

encourages voluntary compliance; team members willingly align their values and behaviours with

the organization's goals and it fosters a shared sense of purpose and commitment among employees.

However it has many limitations; it is time consuming, requires effort to build trust and rapport, is

dependant upon the personality, skill and likeability of the leader and it is not an effective form of

control in situations where immediate compliance is crucial.

4) Social/Cultural Control:

Social/cultural control involves shaping an organization's culture and norms to encourage individuals

to conform to desired behaviours and values. For example an organization promotes a culture of

innovation and creativity, encouraging employees to share ideas and experiment with new

approaches. They may do this by allowing staff members designated time to work on creative

projects. Another example is cultivating a culture of inclusivity and diversity by celebrating festivals

and traditions from other countries. The advantage of this form of control is that it creates lasting

commitment to desired behaviours and values; of all the types of control mentioned in this essay,

this form of control has the longest lasting effect. However changing an existing culture can be

challenging and may face resistance from employees accustomed to the status quo. Shaping culture

is a long-term endeavour that requires ongoing effort but a positive culture brings many benefits

including enhances employee engagement, motivation, and satisfaction.

5) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

KPIs are metrics and performance indicators used to evaluate the performance of individuals, teams,

or the organization as a whole. For example an e-commerce company sets KPIs for customer

satisfaction, measuring it through surveys and feedback ratings. This form of control provides clear

targets, ensuring individuals and teams understand expectations. It also allows for data-driven

decision making. Leaders can make informed decisions based on performance data, for example on

whether a supplier is performing sufficiently to renew the contract with them. The disadvantage to

using KPIs as a form of control is that overemphasizing KPIs may lead to a narrow focus on metrics at

the expense of broader organizational goals and values. People may also prioritize meeting KPIs over

the quality or integrity of their work.

In conclusion, effective leadership requires a nuanced approach to control. Leaders should recognize

that different situations and individuals may require varying degrees and types of control. Relying

solely on one method, such as direct control or bureaucracy, can limit the organization's adaptability

and hinder employee engagement. Instead, a balanced approach that incorporates influencing,

cultural shaping, and the use of KPIs can promote a healthy balance between control and autonomy,

leading to a more effective and motivated workforce. Ultimately, leaders should use a combination

of these control methods to achieve their organizational goals while maintaining a positive and

engaged work environment.

Tutor Notes

- I’ve purposed made this question very vague, because sometimes CIPS do make vague questions.

Things you should think about when approaching this question are: exercise control over what?

(processes?) or over who? (staff?) why do you need control? (is something bad happening?). Because

it’s so open, you will need to bring in your own examples into this type of essay. Everyone's essays

will look very different for this question.

- Other forms of control mentioned in the study guide include: Self-control – no direct intervention;

Trust-control – where trust is high, control reduces (Handy 1993) and Motivation - see the table on p.

189