The Role of Measurement and Feedback in Control

  • Eric G. Flamholtz

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of “measurement” and “feedback” in organizational control.28 We shall develop a framework for viewing the measurement and feedback as components of a core control system from the perspective of attempts to influence human behavior, rather than to merely represent things in numerical terms. The framework is termed the “Psycho-Technical Systems” (or PTS) model of measurement.29

Keywords

Apply Psychology Organizational Measurement Numerical Term Scrap Cost Behavioral Validity 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Ashford, S.J. and A.S. Tsui, 1991, “Self Regulation for Managerial Effectiveness: The Role of Active Feedback Seeking”, Academy of Management Journal, 34: 251–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Baron, Robert A., 1990, “Countering the Effects of Destructive Criticism: The Relative Efficacy of Four Interventions”, Journal of Applied Psychology, 75: 235–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. Bimberg, J.G. and Snodgrass, C, “Culture and Control: A Field Study,” Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 13, No. 5, 1988, pp. 447–464.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. Cammann, C, “The Impact of a Feedback System on Managerial Attitudes and Performance,” Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Yale University, 1974.Google Scholar
  5. Campbell, N.R., Foundations of Science, New York, NY: Dover Publications, 1957.Google Scholar
  6. Carroll, J.B., Language and Thought, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964.Google Scholar
  7. Earley, P.C., G.B. Northcraft, C. Lee, T.R. Lituchy, 1990, “The Impact of Process and Outcome Feedback on the Relation of Goal Setting to Task Performance”, Academy of Management Journal, 33, 87–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Eisenhardt, K.M., “Control: Organizational and Economic Approaches,” Management Science, Vol. 31, 1985, pp. 134–149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Ellul, J., The Technological Society, New York: Alfred A. Knopf 1964.Google Scholar
  10. Flamholtz, Eric, Growing Pains: How To Make The Transition From Entrepreneurship to a Professionally Managed Firm, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers, Inc., 1990.Google Scholar
  11. Flamholtz, Eric, Human Resource Accounting, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers, Inc., 1985.Google Scholar
  12. Flamholtz, Eric, “Toward a Psycho-Technical Systems Paradigm of Organizational Measurement,” Decision Sciences (January, 1979), pp. 71–84.Google Scholar
  13. Gardner, W.R., “Attention: The Processing of Multiple Sources of Information,” Handbook of Perception, Vol. II: Psychophysical Judgement and Measurement, Edited by E. Carterette and M. Friedman. New York: Academic Press, 1974, pp. 23–59.Google Scholar
  14. Grove, H.T., Mock, J. and Ehrenreich, K., “A Review of HRA Measurement Systems from a Measurement Theory Perspective,” Accounting Organizations and Society, 1977, pp. 219–236.Google Scholar
  15. Hedge, J.W. and M.J. Kavanagh, 1988, “Improving the Accuracy of Performance Evaluations: Comparison of Three Methods of Performance Appraiser Training”, Journal of Applied Psychology, 73: 68–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Ijiri, Yuji, Theory of Accounting Measurement, Studies in Accounting, Research No. 10, Sarasota, FL: American Accounting Association, 1975.Google Scholar
  17. Katz, D. & Kahn, R.L., The Social Psychology of Organizations, New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, 1966.Google Scholar
  18. Klein, J.I., 1990, “Feasibility Theory: A Resource-Munificence Model of Work Motivation and Behavior”, Academy of Management Review, 15: 646–665.Google Scholar
  19. Matsui, T., T. Kakuyama, and M.L.U. Onglato, 1987, “Effects of Goals and Feedback on Performance in Groups”, Journal of Applied Psychology, 72: 407–415.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. McLuhan, M., Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1964.Google Scholar
  21. Mirvis, P.H. and Lawler, E.E., “Measuring the Financial Impact of Employee Attitudes,” Journal of Applied Psychology. Vol. 62, No. 2, 1977, pp. 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Mock, T.J., Measurement and Accounting Information Criteria, Studies in Accounting, Research No. 13, Sarasota, FL: American Accounting Association, 1976.Google Scholar
  23. Prakash, P. and Rappaport, A., “Information Inductance and Its Significance For Accounting”, Accounting. Organizations and Society, 1977, pp. 29–38.Google Scholar
  24. Ridgeway, V.F., “Dysfunctional Consequences of Performance Measurements,” Administrative Science Quarterly, September, 1956, pp. 240–247.Google Scholar
  25. Schwan, E.S., “The Effects of Human Resource Accounting Data on Financial Decisions: An Empirical Test,” Accounting, Organizations and Society, 1976, pp. 219–238.Google Scholar
  26. Stevens, S.S., “On The Theory of Scales of Measurement,” Science, 1946, pp. 667–680.Google Scholar
  27. Vance, R.J. and A. Colella, 1990, “Effects of Two Types of Feedback on Goal Acceptance and Personal Goals”, Journal of Applied Psychology. 75: 68–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Williamson, O.E., The Economic Institutions of Capitalism, New York: Free Press, 1985.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 1996

Authors and Affiliations

  • Eric G. Flamholtz

There are no affiliations available

Personalised recommendations