The operation of any enterprise or business organization involves complex activities and functions for effective growth. With different actions being conducted concomitantly, management plays an essential role in ensuring adherence and achievement of the set goals or objectives. The management of an organization functions to ensure the proper utilization of resources which reduces the cost of operation. Through direct or indirect communication the goals and values of an organization are effectively understood which aligns the goals of employees with those of the company. As learned in the module studied, the different roles of management can be classified into four main functions. This paper aims to assess the most important function of management and its role in ensuring the continuity and profitability of an enterprise.
Controlling
Although all the functions are co-related, the most effective and necessary role played by the management in an organization is controlling. Its importance in management is evident in every function required to be accomplished in an organization. Controlling is usually the final function of management after planning, organizing, and leading. (Sjödin, et al., 2021, p.574-587) states that one of the necessary tools in the process of controlling is the feedback loop. The different outputs of a project or operation in an organization can be used as inputs in the controlling function of a manager. Customers and employees are the major players used to provide the feedback loop with data. To acquire reliable insight, one of the necessary actions is to set the necessary standards of performance. A restaurant which is the business under study requires specified standards of operation to ensure high customer satisfaction and loyalty. Effective metrics should be applied to measure the level of performance for the manager to acquire insight into the current state of the enterprise. Customer feedback is one of the effective tools in determining the performance of a restaurant.
Analysis of the actual performance with the set standards should then be conducted by the management. Categorizing the different feedback acquired in a restaurant is important to determine any issues or inconsistencies in operations. Food/drink, marketing sales, and customer service are some of the metrics used in determining the performance of a restaurant enterprise. Different subgroups can be used by the management to determine further insight into the effectiveness of their operations in meeting the needs of the target market. The changes made in the daily operations of a restaurant enterprise are made depending on the strengths or weaknesses displayed in the feedback loop (Chathoth, et al., 2016). Through the controlling function, the management of a restaurant acquires valuable information on the current state and performance which enables smooth transitions and changes. Following up with customer feedback is also an essential part of the controlling function in a restaurant. A genuine and personal response should be created to ensure customer loyalty and interaction.
After the feedback loop is completed, the management gathers insight again from the target market to ensure high performance. The controlling function ensures the continuity of an enterprise by ensuring the management is aware of the current state and the changes required (Vovchenko., et al., 2017). Insight acquired from the feedback loop also aids in utilizing better methods in marketing functions. The integration of technology solutions in the operation of enterprises has played a major role in enabling better and more effective management. The process of data collection, analysis, and classification in the feedback loop can be easily accomplished through the use of different technology gadgets and systems. Identified by (Tan, et al., 2021, pp.14308-14321) data-collecting sensors have been effective in providing management with the real-life insight necessary for the controlling function. The use of technology functions also aids in preventing the various errors associated with human operations. This approach, therefore, increases the accuracy of the data used in the controlling function.
Without the controlling function, the managerial department in a restaurant or any other enterprise would experience major challenges. Operating an enterprise without insight into the overall performance and productivity in the daily operations can lead to many errors and inconsistencies. The lack of a controlling function in management would also make other functions of planning, organizing, and leading almost impossible due to the lack of a metric to determine the overall state of an enterprise (Kerzner, et al., 2019). One of the factors that make controlling the most important function in management is the insight collected. Through the use of the different data collected in a business enterprise, the decision-making process is efficient and ensures the accomplishment of the desired goals and objectives. The utilization of resources is another aspect contributing to the importance of the controlling function of management. As outlined by (Henttu-Aho, et al., 2016, p.31-56) the application of the assessed data in controlling enables the management to efficiently allocate funds and utilize them efficiently. The various areas of a restaurant that require change are easily identified which reduces the wastage of human and physical resources. Controlling has also been an effective tool in ensuring order and discipline in an organization. The different standards of performance set motivate employees to meet the necessary needs.
Conclusion
As outlined in the paper, the controlling function forms the backbone of the overall management. In the management of a restaurant, controlling is one of the necessary functions to ensure high performance and competition. Through the effective collection, assessment, and classification of data in daily operations, managers can ensure optimal performance and high profitability of an enterprise. More strategic actions in enabling the controlling function of management should be determined and implemented. The use of technology solutions has further enabled managers to efficiently accomplish the controlling function through real-time assessment of operations and performance.
Works Cited
Chathoth, Prakash K., et al. “Co-creation and higher order customer engagement in hospitality and tourism services: A critical review.” International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management (2016).
Henttu-Aho, Tiina. “Enabling characteristics of new budgeting practice and the role of controller.” Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management 13.1 (2016): 31-56.
Kerzner, Harold. Using the project management maturity model: strategic planning for project management. John Wiley & Sons, 2019.
Sjödin, David, et al. “How AI capabilities enable business model innovation: Scaling AI through co-evolutionary processes and feedback loops.” Journal of Business Research 134 (2021): 574-587.
Tan, Ee-Leng, et al. “Extracting urban sound information for residential areas in smart cities using an end-to-end IoT system.” IEEE Internet of Things Journal 8.18 (2021): 14308-14321.
Vovchenko, Natalia G., et al. “Ensuring financial stability of companies on the basis of international experience in construction of risks maps, internal control and audit.” (2017).