Management by objectives - MBO - is a common sense way of managing employee performance.
As the name goes, the boss agrees a set of objectives with his subordinate for a given period and then measures the subordinates performance against the set objectives. The period of measurement is usually 1 year but there are often quarterly or mid-year reviews to measure progress.
Why is management by objectives important?
It's important for at least five reasons:
1. It creates a sense of direction for team members
2. It provides a useful tool for assessing performance
3. It creates a level playing ground for all. Measurement is objective not subjective.
4. Eliminates or greatly reduces bias or prejudice associated with subjective assessment
5. Growth in the organization is performance-based
If you're yet to imbibe the culture of management by objectives, it's time to start.