Controllo

Controllo is an Italian noun that denotes both the act of verifying something and the power to govern or regulate a system, institution, or activity. In everyday language, it often means a check, inspection, or audit performed to ensure accuracy, safety, or compliance. It can also refer to the capacity to influence outcomes or to command resources.

In business and administration, the term appears in phrases such as controllo di gestione (management control), focusing on planning, monitoring, and reporting performance; controllo contabile (auditing and financial control); and controllo societario or controllo azionario, describing the influence or ownership that one entity has over another.

In engineering and technology, controllo is used for systems that regulate processes, variables, or devices. Controllo automatico or controllo di processo describes feedback-based regulation of industrial processes; controllo di temperatura, livello, o velocità are common examples. The concept also extends to remote controls (controllo remoto) and access control (controllo accessi) in security and information systems.

In quality assurance, controllo qualità refers to the activities ensuring that products or services conform to standards. In governance and public administration, controllo denotes oversight, supervision, and compliance mechanisms designed to detect anomalies, enforce rules, and safeguard stakeholders. The word thus spans practical acts of checking and the broader authority to direct or shape complex systems.