On Management by Objectives

["Doug Hensler" <Hensler@colorado.edu>]

I generally agree with the comments castigating Management by =
Objectives.  However, I would say that MBO was well-intentioned ("best =
efforts are not enough").  The failures are do in part to executive =
failure to see the importance of structuring an organization in a way =
that aligns outcomes including deliverables, decision-making, personnel =
interactions, risk taking, and behaviors with the company aim.  MBO =
dumped a new acronym on managers without considering that the =
organizational structure may actually prevent sound MBO implementation.

Doug Hensler
W. Edwards Deming Professor of Management
University of Colorado at Boulder