Management control systems are broadly defined as the formal routines, reports, and procedures that use information to maintain or alter patterns in organizational activities. These feedback control systems include the formalized Information-based activities for planning, budgeting, performance evaluation, resource allocation, and employee rewards. Targets are set in advance, outcomes compared to targets, and variances reported to managers for corrective action. Exhibit 11.4 lists four control system elements that are often considered the core of management control systems: the budget and financial reports; periodic nonfinancial statistical reports; reward systems; and quality-control systems.