The more complex the operations, the greater the problem of expense control. In complex circumstances, expenses can be effectively controlled only through planning, continuous effort, and a well-designed system of control. Expense control is a line responsibility, not a staff function. A control system does not and cannot control expense. Instead it gives the managers of the responsibility centers a tool of control—a tool that can be made effective by those managers. The responsibility center managers will view expense control seriously if top management exhibits an active interest in it. Investigations have shown that lower levels of management tend to view expense control in the same light their managers. If top management is lackadaisical as supervising p and the lower-level managers will be likewise inconsistent about expenses, the lower-level managers will be likewise. Merely talking about expense control and “riding” some supervisor on occasion will not contribute to effective control. Intelligent, organized, and expense consistent effort is crucial in performing this vital managerial function effectively.