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The Global Insight

What is the MBO technique?

Author

John Johnson

Updated on March 03, 2026

Management by Objectives (MBO) is a strategic approach to enhance the performance of an organization. It is a process where the goals of the organization are defined and conveyed by the management to the members of the organization. Organizational structures with the intention to achieve each objective.

What are the objectives of the MBO?

Management by Objectives (MBO) is a personnel management technique where managers and employees work together to set, record and monitor goals for a specific period of time. Organizational goals and planning flow top-down through the organization and are translated into personal goals for organizational members.

Why management by objectives MBO process is used as a motivation technique in the Organisation?

The individual members of the organisation have a greater sense of identification with the company goals. With MBO, the subordinates feel proud of being involved in the organisational goals. This improves their morale and commitment to the organisational objectives.

What are the three types of MBO objectives?

Three types of objectives used in MBO: Improvement objectives, Personal Development objectives, and Maintenance objectives.

What does management by Objectives ( MBO ) mean?

What is Management by Objectives (MBO)? Management by Objectives (MBO) is a strategic approach to enhance the performance of an organization. It is a process where the goals of the organization are defined and conveyed by the management to the members of the organization.

What are the disadvantages of Management by objectives?

But there is still a disadvantage that is associated with the MBO. And that is how the MBO emphasizes the goals set. The MBO generally unduly emphasizes the attainment of the objectives and does work on a systematic plan for the same.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of MBO?

Practitioners claim that the major benefits of MBO are that it improves employee motivation and commitment and allows for better communication between management and employees. However, a cited weakness of MBO is that it unduly emphasizes the setting of goals to attain objectives, rather than working on a systematic plan to do so.

What are the major components of the MBO process?

The following four major components of the MBO process are believed to contribute to its effectiveness: (1) setting specific goals; (2) setting realistic and acceptable goals; (3) joint participation in goal setting, planning, and controlling; and (4) feedback. R. Rodgers & J.E. Hunter. 1991.