Objectives

The correct answer is C. The 15% figure makes the intended increase quantifiable, so progress can be measured by comparing admissions with the relevant starting level. The next session also provides a time frame.

The direct answer is A: objectives should be realistic and achievable. An objective tells an organisation what it wants to accomplish. A useful objective should be clear enough to guide action and should be possible to achieve with available resources and effort. If a target is realistic, employees can plan for it, measure progress and remain motivated. Option A is correct. Option B, objectives should always be impossible, is wrong because an impossible target cannot guide practical work and may discourage people. Option C, objectives should have no time limit, is wrong because a time limit helps determine when achievement will be checked and prevents indefinite delay. Option D, no one should know the objectives, is wrong because employees and departments need to understand them so that their work can be coordinated. A good exam cue is to remember that objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound wherever possible. Realistic does not mean unambitious; it means possible with serious effort.

The correct answer is A. An objective identifies what the organisation intends to achieve, while a policy provides general guidance for making decisions and taking action toward its aims.

The correct answer is D. A vague objective does not clearly state the intended result or standard, so it is difficult to judge how much progress has been made.

The correct answer is A. Shared objectives help departments and employees align their efforts toward common results, making their work easier to coordinate.

The correct answer is B. It sets a specific target for one salesperson, so it is an individual objective. The other options refer to a broad organisational aim, a government action, or a rule.

The correct answer is C. Planning generally begins by setting objectives, because these clarify what is to be achieved and guide the development of later plans and actions.

Objectives state the desired results or goals that an organisation wants to achieve; therefore, they answer, “What is to be achieved?” “How” relates to method or procedure, “who” to responsibility, and “when” to scheduling. Exam tip: Link objectives with the expected end result or goal.

The direct answer is B, Objective. An objective is a planned result or target that an organisation wants to achieve. “Reduce production defects” clearly states a desired improvement in the final performance of production. The reasoning is: defects are the present problem; reducing them is the desired result; a desired result is an objective. Option A, rule, would be a compulsory instruction such as “inspect every item before packing.” Option B is correct because it expresses the target outcome. Option C, method, would explain how to reduce defects, such as using inspection or improved machinery. Option D, policy, would be a broad guide, such as a policy of maintaining high quality. Thus the sentence states what the company wants, not how it will do it. Memory cue: “what to achieve” is an objective; “how to achieve it” is a method.

The correct answer is A. Objectives state the results expected, so actual employee performance can be compared with those expectations.

‘Do very well soon’ is the least effective objective because it does not state a specific task, a measurable target, or a definite time limit. The other options clearly mention an action, a number, and a timeframe, so performance can be assessed. Exam tip: An effective objective is usually specific, measurable, and time-bound.

The correct answer is A. Objectives describe the results expected and therefore provide standards against which performance can be assessed.

The correct answer is A. Increasing the organisation’s profit is a desired result for the organisation as a whole; the other options are isolated tasks rather than organisation-wide objectives.

The correct answer is A. Objectives should be realistic and take account of the organisation’s capabilities and available resources, so they can be pursued effectively.

The direct answer is A, time-bound. An objective becomes time-bound when it states the period or deadline within which the target must be achieved. The reasoning is simple: there is a target, and there is a specified time for reaching it; therefore the objective has a time limit. Option A is correct. Option B, disorganised, describes poor arrangement and has nothing to do with the presence of a deadline. Option C, invisible, means something that cannot be seen and is unrelated to objective quality. Option D, unnecessary, means not needed; a deadline does not make a target unnecessary. A time-bound objective helps managers schedule work, review progress and decide whether the target was achieved on time. Memory cue: words such as by March, within six months, next year or this quarter signal time-bound.

The correct answer is B. Without clear objectives, people have less guidance about what matters most, making it harder to set priorities.

The direct answer is A, “Clear and simple language.” An objective guides people only when they understand it in the same way. Clear wording reduces confusion, makes responsibilities easier to assign, and helps managers check whether the result has been achieved. Simple language does not mean that the goal must be childish; it means the words should be direct, precise and understandable. Option A is correct because clarity is an important quality of a useful objective. Option B, confusing language, is wrong because employees may interpret the goal differently and work in different directions. Option C, very secret codes, is wrong because objectives normally need to be communicated to the people responsible for achieving them; secret codes hide the meaning. Option D, incomplete language, is wrong because an unfinished statement may not identify the expected result, time or standard. A good objective is also preferably specific and measurable. Memory cue: if a goal cannot be understood clearly, it cannot guide action or be checked fairly.

The correct answer is C. Improving the customer satisfaction score is a desired result, and the time reference makes it a stated objective rather than a policy, rule, or method.

The correct answer is A. An objective describes what the organisation wants to achieve, while a budget presents planned results or activities in numerical terms, often in financial figures.

The direct answer is A, analyse the reasons and take corrective action. An objective is a planned result, such as a sales, production or cost target. After the planned period, the manager compares the actual result with the objective. If the result falls short, the manager studies the causes, such as inadequate resources, poor methods, delays or unrealistic planning, and then takes corrective steps. Option A is correct because this is the logical use of objectives and is closely related to controlling. Option B is wrong: deleting records hides information and prevents learning or checking. Option C is wrong: failure to reach one objective does not mean work must always stop. Option D is wrong: objectives specifically make comparison possible because they provide standards. The memory cue is: objective creates the standard; comparison finds deviation; correction improves performance.

The correct answer is A. When departmental objectives do not oppose one another, they are aligned and can support the organisation’s overall goals.

The comparison shows whether the organisation achieved the results it had set out to achieve. A smaller gap between the target and actual result indicates better achievement of that objective.

Reducing the collection period is a target assigned to the finance department, so it is a departmental objective. The other options are not objectives of a particular organisational department.

The direct answer is A: plans are made according to goals. An objective is the result an organisation wants to achieve. Planning means deciding in advance what must be done, how it will be done, when it will be done and who will do it. Therefore, objectives come first and provide the destination and direction for every later plan. Step by step: first management decides the desired result; second it chooses actions and resources that can achieve that result; third it prepares schedules and procedures. Option A is correct because goals guide all these decisions. Option B is wrong because rumours are unverified and cannot provide a reliable basis for planning. Option C is wrong because a plan without direction cannot connect actions with a desired result. Option D is wrong because colour has no necessary connection with business objectives or planning. Memory cue: objective means destination; plan means the route to reach it.

An objective is a desired result or target that an organisation aims to achieve. Therefore, ‘Target’ is the clearest word for identifying an objective. ‘Technique’ refers to the method of doing a task, not the result to be achieved. Exam tip: objectives usually state a desired result, target, or achievement.