Styrsystemets roll i balanseringen mellan kontroll och empowerment
En kartläggning av ett styrsystem och varför användningen leder till observerade effekter på personalen
Problem discussion: That empowerment and autonomy can lead to desirable effects on employees is clear. Previous research has found correlations between empowerment and e.g. motivation, job satisfaction, productivity, loyalty and commitment. However, a control problem arises when employees have more freedom in decision-making which could potentially lead to undesirable outcomes. It thus becomes a type of dilemma for management and managers where you have to try to balance a restrictive use of the control system (to maintain control) and an enabling use (to promote empowerment).Purpose: The purpose of this study is therefore to identify how a company can use its control system in order to achieve empowerment while maintaining acceptable levels of control. It also examines the effects that management uses have on the staff and the factors that contribute to their reactions towards the manner of use.Method: In order to collect the necessary and current empirical data adapted to the purpose of the study a qualitative approach has been taken including semi-structured interviews, observation and document review as collection methods. The data collection was carried out in the store that is the research site of this case study.Conclusions: Since the use of control systems is an elusive concept there are inevitably some disagreements in previous research relating to conceptualizing a framework for the mechanisms that can be included in a management control system. The study clarifies doubts about cultural controls, which can be used both constraining and enabling and also how the incentive system includes both rewards and punishments where you can also reward compliance of constraining mechanisms (e.g. rules and guidelines). When it comes to why the staff mostly experienced management?s use of the control system as a positive a closer examination of potential factors is made where interactivity appears to have a crucial role and can influence other parts of the system that might otherwise be perceived negatively.