Goal Setting (Locke)

Question 1

5 types of goals within a company

Answer 1

Power lies in alignment of objectives within a company

1. individual goal (bottom level; operative goal)
2. operating group goals (middle level; operative goal)
3. enterprise level goal (top level)
4. strategic goals (set by the chairman)
5. visionary goals (try to predict the future development of markets and react to them)

Question 2

5 principles of goal setting

Answer 2

1. clarity - about goal and task of each follower
2. commitment - involvement of all team members in progress
3. challenge - not too easy goals, matched goals to development of follower
4. Task complexity - increasing complexity means reducing motivation -> right degree of complexity
5. feedback - constructive / critical feedback to challenge followers

Question 3

How goals affect the performance

Answer 3

1. directive function: goals bring effort in direction of relevant activities
2. energizing function: high goals lead to greater effort
3. persistence: tight deadlines lead to quicker work than lose deadline; people are getting more persistent by reaching the goals
4. action: develop a strategy to collect the necessary knowledge to achieve the goal; sense of ownership

Question 4

SMART goals

Answer 4

Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound