Organizational Development: A Manual for Managers and ... - FPDL

The number of levels needed depends on the size and complexity of the organization and
situation, the ratio between control and self-regulation, and the capacity of the organization’s
controllers. When controllers are weak – then more levels are needed. Everyone would agree that
in very high hierarchies it is common to find extremely incompetent directors at any level.
Deviations and control
Control is needed to keep any situation within the desired area of ‘existence space’, or to ensure
that it comes to this area. The trajectory of the move to this destination may be assigned from
outside, from a higher level of control, or elaborated by the controller on the relevant level.
In case the actual movement deviates from the given trajectory (e.g. interim results are not
compliant with the supposed or planned ones), the direction should be adjusted within the frame of
any controllable parameter or combination of them. Uncontrollables, alas, remain uncontrollable.
But the direction is always under influence of the controller as long as at least one essential
parameter remains controllable.
A reason for a deviation may be casual or systematic.
• Casual reason may refer to stochastic natural factors (e.g. weather, staff illness,
appearance or not of certain clients, etc.) or factors that could not be known in advance
(e.g. a new product in the market, a difficult political decision on building a new bridge,
etc.). The response to a casual reason should be correction of the trajectory.
• Systematic reason may belong to controllable as well as to uncontrollable parameters or
factors.
If a systematic reason consists of regularly reiterating deviations belonging to controllable
parameters – it is, by definition, always possible to eliminate it.
An adequate reaction to a regular deviation of uncontrollable parameters may be repetitive
corrections; the same might be true for casual reasons.
However, instead of regular exercises of correction to realign regularly deviating parameters, it
may be possible to implement certain permanent compensation for objectionable deviations of an
uncontrollable parameter. In other words, it may be possible to create a permanent adjustment to
controllable parameters in order to create a corresponding permanent change and thereby keep
outcomes within the desirable range. For example, dressing more warmly in response to cold
weather, implementing new security measures in response to a rising threat of terrorist attacks,
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