Using SetPoint Theory to set your Progressive Objectives in Business & Life?

The closed loop control (CLC) or the feedback theory, are prominent theories in the system dynamics and industrial world. Since their inception, more than a century ago, they were used in billions of applications in factories, Industries, plants, equipment, transportation, aviation, space, ships etc. As explained in the figure, any CLC system needs three main components: controller, sensor/s and energy source or driver (valve, pump, actuator etc.). The operator selects a set point on the controller which defines the target of the controlled variable, being; flow rate, temperature, pressure, level, quality, force etc. The sensor measures the actual value of this variable, sends feedback to the controller, where this value is compared to the set-point, then according to the difference (control error), it sends output signal to the driver, to bring respective controlled variable to the desired setpoint or target value. It keeps looping, doing this action until the set target is achieved.
A good controller brings its process to its target fast enough with little or no offset (deviation from Set-point/ target value) and little or no oscillations.
Now let’s project the above to setting and achieving objectives in life or business, where objective is analogues to a Setpoint in CLC, you (the controller) trying to achieve it, by acting on certain drivers you have (knowledge, experience, personality, communication skills, relationships etc.), then as a good controller (you in this case) start comparing the actual results to your objectives (Setpoint), of course after giving your drivers the needed time to do so. Like the controller if there is still gap (equal to the control error in CLC), between actual progress and your target, then you act accordingly, to rectify the situation, eliminate and or reduce the gap until you achieve your objectives. In both cases you need to deal with accuracy of your data on the situation (feedback link and measurement in case of CLC), whereby you need to filter out inaccurte data if any (wrong information, inaccuracies, poor reporting etc.).
Now there is the scenario of inability to achieve your targets or objectives, so need either to add more drivers (energy and action in case of CLC) or reduce Setpoint to avoid frustration and setback (control windup or process starvation in case of CLC and process). Hence, like a good controller, objectives need to be set wisely in line with capabilities, raised gradually if the situation (process condition and equipment sizing allows), so objectives are achieved effectively (fast, no oscillation and gaps control response, called over-damped response in control theory).
This is what I call the “Universal Process” as explained in my book, The Human Model.

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