Which type of control encourages alignment with norms and values?

Cultural control is the type of control that encourages alignment with norms and values within an organization. This approach focuses on shaping the behavior of employees through shared beliefs, values, and principles that define the organization’s culture. By fostering a strong organizational culture, companies can influence employee behavior in a way that aligns with the company's mission and objectives.

When employees resonate with the cultural norms and values, they are more likely to take initiative and make decisions that reflect the organization’s goals, even when direct supervision or specific guidelines are not in place. This intrinsic motivation can lead to higher levels of engagement and commitment, as employees feel a sense of belonging and purpose in their work.

In contrast, output control emphasizes the results achieved by employees, often through quantitative metrics, and may not take into account the underlying values that guide employee behavior. Bureaucratic control relies on established rules and procedures to manage activities, which can sometimes stifle individual initiative and creativity. Performance control evaluates how well employees meet their targets but does not inherently focus on aligning with the organization's cultural values.

Therefore, cultural control stands out for its ability to encourage alignment in a way that deeply integrates the organization's values into everyday practices, making it the best answer to this question.