IAFEI Quarterly - Special Issue

7 Materials contained in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, provided credit is given to the source : International Observatory of Management Control - DFCG – Decision Performance Conseil www.conseil-dpc.com 1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY: FROM MANAGEMENT CONTROL TO PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Presentation of the International Observatory of Management Control The International Observatory of Management Control was launched in 2010 by the DFCG (French Association of CFOs and Financial Controllers) under the initiative of Frédéric Doche, in partnership with the consulting firm Décision Performance Conseil. The aim of this Observatory is to better understand the different activities of the Management Controllers, the processes and methods they use, together with the tools now used by the fi- nance world in this age of digital transformation. Indeed, with the digital shift at work in our economy, the management control function is un- dertaking a profound transformation. Its role had already evolved from the swift production of reliable information to the production of value adding analyses and effective collaboration with the operational teams. Digital transformation now impacts not only the way the profession op- erates but also management's expectations on their role. The ability to be a consultant - an advi- sor - in performance management and in decision making is now essential. Given all these challenges, the 7th edition of the International Observatory of Management Con- trol is evolving considerably in its form and in its substance. This year, we focus on the impact of digital on the management control function and the expected changes in the profession. As a consequence, the questionnaire has been adapted. The core analysis of the Controller's meth- ods, processes and activities has been reduced. Two chapters have been added, one dealing with the impact of digitalization on management control, including Big Data topics, the other one dealing with the evolution of the Management Controller’s profession. The working group, chaired by Frédéric Doche, Chairman of the Management Control Group of the DFCG and Founder and Chairman of Décision Performance Conseil, has managed this year again to illustrate its analysis through testimonials from several professionals of the manage- ment control function. We would like to thank all of the interviewees for their availability and contribution to a richer and more dynamic 2017 edition. The results of the previous editions have raised great interest and have been the subject of sev- eral presentations and publications, in particular at the annual DFCG congress “FINANCIUM”.