Concurrent Control

Definition

Concurrent control is a type of control system that monitors and adjusts an organization's activities as they are being performed. It involves real-time monitoring and immediate corrective action to ensure that operations are proceeding according to plan and objectives are being met.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Concurrent control allows managers to identify and address problems as they arise, rather than waiting for the end of the process.
2. It is particularly useful in fast-paced, dynamic environments where rapid adjustments are necessary to keep operations on track.
3. Concurrent control requires real-time data collection and analysis to provide timely feedback and enable quick decision-making.
4. Effective concurrent control relies on clear performance standards, well-defined control points, and the ability to make immediate corrections.
5. Implementing concurrent control can help organizations improve efficiency, quality, and responsiveness, but it requires significant investment in monitoring and information systems.

Review Questions

• Explain how concurrent control differs from other types of control systems, such as feedforward and feedback control.
  • Concurrent control is distinguished from feedforward and feedback control in its focus on real-time monitoring and immediate corrective action. Feedforward control uses information about inputs to make adjustments before outputs are produced, while feedback control relies on measuring outputs to make retrospective adjustments. Concurrent control, on the other hand, continuously monitors the process as it is unfolding and makes immediate corrections to ensure that operations are proceeding according to plan and objectives are being met. This allows for a more proactive and responsive approach to control, which is particularly useful in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
• Describe the key requirements for effective implementation of concurrent control systems.
  • Effective implementation of concurrent control systems requires several key elements: 1) Clear performance standards and control points that define the desired outcomes and critical stages of the process; 2) Real-time data collection and analysis capabilities to provide timely feedback on the status of operations; 3) The ability to make immediate corrections and adjustments to address any deviations from the plan; 4) Well-defined decision-making protocols and authority to enable quick responses; and 5) Robust information systems and communication channels to facilitate the flow of data and enable coordinated action. Without these foundational elements, concurrent control systems may not be able to effectively monitor and adjust activities in real-time to ensure the achievement of organizational objectives.
• Evaluate the potential benefits and challenges of implementing a concurrent control system in an organization.
  • The potential benefits of implementing a concurrent control system include improved efficiency, quality, and responsiveness. By continuously monitoring and adjusting operations in real-time, organizations can identify and address problems as they arise, rather than waiting for the end of the process. This can lead to reduced waste, higher productivity, and better alignment with customer needs and market demands. However, the implementation of concurrent control systems also presents several challenges. It requires significant investment in data collection, analysis, and information systems to enable real-time monitoring and decision-making. Additionally, it may necessitate changes to organizational structures, processes, and decision-making protocols to facilitate the rapid adjustments required. Overcoming resistance to these changes and ensuring the effective integration of concurrent control systems into the broader organizational context can be crucial for realizing the full benefits of this approach to control.

Related terms

Feedback Control: A control system that uses feedback from the output or outcome to adjust the process and keep it on track with the desired goal or standard.

Feedforward Control: A control system that uses information about the inputs to the process to make adjustments before the outputs are produced, in order to prevent deviations from the plan.

Cybernetics: The study of control and communication in living organisms, machines, and organizations, focusing on how systems use feedback to regulate themselves.