- 10 Marks
Question
Management philosophers are unanimous about the fact that the quality of objectives largely
determines how useful they are thus improving their chances of being attained. Several
guidelines have subsequently been established over time to help managers develop high quality organisational objectives
Required:
Explain FIVE (5) characteristics of an organisational objective.
Answer
- Specific: Management must develop organizational objectives that are specific. A specific objective includes what is to be accomplished and within what time frame it is to be accomplished. Being specific ensures that all organizational members know and understand what is required of them.
- Motivating: Studies have shown that employees are most productive when objectives are set at a motivating level. The objective should be high enough to challenge but not so high as to frustrate or so low that it is easily attained.
- Achievable: Objectives should be achievable. All members of the organization should perceive the objectives as attainable. Employees who view objectives as impossible to attain may utterly ignore them as an indicator of how they should apply their efforts.
- Flexible: Managers should establish objectives that are flexible. Objectives should be established with the understanding that they might have to be modified. Objectives should be adaptable to the unforeseen or extraordinary changes in the firm’s competitive environment.
- Measurable: Organizational objectives should be measurable. A measurable objective, sometimes called operational objective, is one stated in such a way that an attempt to achieve it can be compared to the objective itself to determine whether it has actually been attained.
- Tags: Management, Objectives, Organisational Goals
- Level: Level 1
- Topic: The Business Organisation and its Stakeholders
- Series: NOV 2023
- Uploader: Theophilus