## Types of Strategic Control
Strategic control is the process of monitoring whether the strategy is being implemented as planned and whether it is producing the intended results.
### Four Types of Strategic Control
| Type | When Used | Key Purpose |
|---|
| Premise Control | Ongoing, throughout implementation | Monitors whether the assumptions (premises) on which the strategy was based still hold true |
| Strategic Surveillance | Ongoing, broad environmental scanning | Broad monitoring of the environment for events/developments that might affect the strategy (e.g., owners reading business magazines, attending conclaves) |
| Special Alert Control | Triggered by sudden, unexpected events | Coping with sudden crises — government changes, natural calamities, terrorist attacks, industrial disasters |
| Implementation Control | During execution of strategy | Monitors whether strategy implementation is progressing as planned |
### Implementation Control — Two Mechanisms
1. Milestone Reviews — Regular evaluations of goals and performance at set milestones; helps organisations stay responsive to shifting market trends and evolving customer needs
2. Monitoring Strategic Thrusts — Tracks the progress of specific strategic initiatives (strategic thrusts)
### Critical Exam Trap: What Is NOT a Type of Strategic Control?
> Operational Control is NOT a type of strategic control.
Operational control deals with short-term, routine operational activities.
- Example tool: Budgetary Control (a form of operational control)
- Management control = embracing integrated activities of a complete department (total or aggregate management)
### Strategic vs. Operational Control
| Aspect | Strategic Control | Operational Control |
|---|
| Time horizon | Long-term, strategic | Short-term, routine |
| Focus | Strategy effectiveness | Day-to-day performance |
| Examples | Premise, surveillance, special alert, implementation | Budgetary control, scheduling |
### Example 1
MCQ (MTP1 May 2023): Technique to cope up with sudden change in government, natural calamities, terrorist attacks, industrial disasters etc. is called:
(a) Special Alert Control (b) Strategic Surveillance (c) Premise Control (d) Implementation Control
Correct Answer: (a) Special Alert Control
Special Alert Control is specifically designed for sudden, unanticipated crises that require immediate strategic reassessment. It is triggered by specific shocking events, unlike Strategic Surveillance which is a continuous broad scan.
### Example 2
MCQ (MTP1 Nov 2020): Which of the following would be chosen by the core strategist to implement operational control?
(a) Premise Control (b) Special Alert Control (c) Implementation Control (d) Budgetary Control
Correct Answer: (d) Budgetary Control
Budgetary control is an operational control tool — it tracks short-term financial performance against budgets. The other three options are all types of strategic control.
### Example 3
MCQ (MTP2 May 2021): Which one is NOT a type of strategic control?
(a) Operational control (b) Strategic surveillance (c) Special alert control (d) Premise control
Correct Answer: (a) Operational control
Operational control is separate from strategic control. Strategic control has four types: Premise Control, Strategic Surveillance, Special Alert Control, and Implementation Control.
### Example 4
Scenario (MTP1 Sep 2024 – Kriti Pvt. Ltd.): The owners of Kriti Pvt. Ltd. regularly attended industry conclaves and read business magazines. They sensed the 'Vocal for Local' sentiment early and planned accordingly. Which type of strategic control did they deploy?
(a) Premise control (b) Special alert control (c) Implementation control (d) Strategic surveillance
Correct Answer: (d) Strategic Surveillance
Strategic surveillance involves broad, ongoing environmental monitoring — attending conclaves and reading business magazines to detect signals that might affect strategy is the textbook example of strategic surveillance.