The classical control theory provides to designers tuning methods for conventional proportional-integrative-derivative (PID) controllers. An alternative to these methods is the control based on state variable feedback. Through Matlab/Simulink simulation, the paper analyzes a second-order system for which the state variable feedback gains are determined, and the step responses are examined in relation to the poles map. This analysis is conducted using both the pole placement technique in the complex plane and the method based on minimizing the linear quadratic criterion. For each simulated scenario, performances are presented in terms of transient time, settling time and overshoot.