Abstract: The movement of a machine element of a machine that can be driven via a shaft with the aid of a motor can be guided by specifying a setpoint guidance variable describing a desired movement process of the machine element for the actuation of the motor and determining an actual pilot variable and/or an actual guidance variable from the setpoint guidance variable by subjecting the setpoint guidance variable to a digital path model which simulates the dynamic behavior of the machine element and the motor. The digital path model is parameterized by the total moment of inertia and the poles and zeros of the transfer function of the mechanical system consisting of motor, shaft and machine element.