Specification of functions of monitoring economic activity of enterprises

The goal of the article lies in specification of the function of monitoring the economic activity of enterprises with respect to complementary "controlling" notion with the help of analysis of theoretical and methodological aspects of feedback. Analysing, systemising and generalising scientific works devoted to monitoring and controlling, the article shows a tendency of mixing the monitoring and controlling functions. In order to divide monitoring and controlling functions, the article formulates scientific principles in accordance with which this division should be done. This is the principle of reality chart, principle of historical succession, principle of mutual study of complementary notions and principle of minimum of inter-subject uncertainty. The article proves that the monitoring and controlling notions, as synthetic and complementary notions, should be described within the feedback theory. It justifies that the monitoring functions lie observation over the enterprise properties through their measurement and preservation of the obtained results. Controlling is the process based on monitoring, activity of which lies in the search for deviations from the standard (plan) and development of correcting decisions directed at achievement of goals of the enterprise. Development of the studied methods of management within the feedback theory would help to reduce uncertainty in their interpretation, which exists now in scientific circles.