The cycle of control includes setting strategic goals for departments or the organization as a whole, establishing metrics and standards of performance, comparing metrics of actual performance to standards, and correcting or changing activities as needed. An example from Jefferson Pilot Financial, a full-service life insurance and annuities company, illustrates the feedback control model. Executives established goals for one department to reduce the time between receiving an application and issuing a policy by 60 percent and to reduce the number of reissued policies due to errors by 40 percent. When performance was measured, the unit had met its goal of reducing reissues by 40 percent and had surpassed the application-to-policy goal, reducing turnaround time by 70 percent. Feedback control helps managers make needed adjustments in work activities, standards of performance, or goals to help the organization be successful. Complete the questionnaire in the “How Do You Fit the Design? box to see how effective you are at setting goals.