Nonfinancial boundary controls, tailoring performance measures to the job setting (LO4). Guardian Services is a firm that provides security services to apartment buildings and offices. Smartly dressed...

Nonfinancial boundary controls, tailoring performance measures to the job setting (LO4). Guardian Services is a firm that provides security services to apartment buildings and offices. Smartly dressed in dark blue uniforms, Guardian’s security officers are placed in visible locations (typically in the building’s foyer) and serve to increase safety and deter theft and other crimes. In many buildings, Guardian’s officers monitor the feed from video cameras that are strategically located throughout the building. These cameras often are hooked up to a personal computer (PC) at the security station; the officer can then use the PC to adjust the camera angle and zoom in on any suspicious activity. All feeds also are captured on videotape, which is archived for a minimum of seven days.

Required:

a. As you might imagine, overcoming boredom is a big challenge in the security officer’s job. Usually, little activity of interest occurs, and it is not uncommon for officers to doze off when on duty. What kinds of controls might Guardian Services put in place to ensure that its security officers are awake and alert?

b. Would you use different types of controls to evaluate the activities of police officers who are cruising the streets in their patrol cars? What kinds of controls might you put in place to ensure that police officers are doing their job?

c. Why do the control mechanisms differ in the two job settings described above?