Objectives

Clear objectives tell employees what results are expected, helping them focus their efforts on the organisation’s goals.

The direct answer is C, add 300 members this quarter. A measurable objective contains something that can be counted, calculated or checked, usually together with a time period. Option C gives both a quantity, 300 members, and a period, this quarter. Managers can compare the final number with 300 and determine whether the objective was achieved. Option A, create good impact, is too vague because it does not say what impact or how much. Option B, improve quickly, is also vague because quickly has no exact duration and no measurable amount of improvement. Option D, create better environment, does not identify a clear measurement or standard. Therefore C is the only precise and measurable objective. Memory cue: look for a number plus a time period, such as 300 members this quarter.

Objectives clarify what the organisation is trying to achieve, so they help decision-makers choose actions that support those goals.

A clear quality standard states the expected level. The organisation can compare actual quality with that standard to assess whether the objective has been achieved.

Absenteeism concerns employees’ attendance, so reducing it is a human-resource objective.

Objectives clarify the results to be achieved, helping guide plans. They also provide standards against which performance can be assessed.

The target states a measurable service result and the time period for achieving it. It is therefore an objective, not a rule, method or procedure.

The correct answer is B, efficiency objective. Reducing raw-material wastage helps the department use its resources more efficiently.

The correct answer is A. Organising objectives by priority helps management focus on the most important goals and allocate resources accordingly.

The target is an objective because it states a result the company aims to achieve. The percentage and six-month period make the target specific and measurable.

Objectives state what the organisation aims to achieve, so they guide its activities towards specific goals.

Setting objectives makes the expected result and the goal to be achieved clear to employees. Therefore, option A is correct. Leave entitlement, file colour, or discontinuing rules does not define the purpose of objectives. Exam tip: Link ‘objectives’ with expected results or goals.

A measurable objective provides a standard that can be compared with actual results, making it easier to check performance.

Option C gives a specific result—100 new customers—and a time period—the current month. These details make it clearer and easier to measure than the other options.

A 7% reduction is a specific amount, and “over the next year” gives a time period. The target can therefore be measured against actual costs, making it a measurable objective.

Departmental objectives should support the organisation's overall objectives. This alignment helps different departments work towards the organisation's common goals.

The correct answer is C, scattered. Objectives give employees a common direction; without them, their efforts may move in different directions instead of contributing to a shared result.

The correct answer is D, at the beginning. Planning starts by deciding what the organisation wants to achieve; the later steps determine how to pursue those objectives.

The correct answer is B. An objective identifies a result the organisation wants to achieve, whereas a policy provides general guidance for making decisions and taking action toward that result.

Objectives make clear what employees have to achieve and the direction in which they should work. When targets are clear, employees can link their performance with expected results and are encouraged to make greater effort. Hiding information about resources does not motivate employees; effective use of resources is part of planning. Exam tip: associate objectives with planning, direction, and employee motivation.

The correct answer is A. Customer satisfaction reflects how well customers are served, so improving its score is a customer-service objective.

The correct answer is A. A realistic objective is within reach given the organisation’s circumstances and capabilities, making it possible to work toward and achieve it.

An objective with a fixed time limit or deadline is called a time-bound objective. Therefore, time-bound objective is the correct answer. A measurable objective can be assessed using numbers or standards, but it does not necessarily include a deadline. Exam tip: In SMART objectives, a deadline indicates the ‘Time-bound’ element.

The correct answer is A. Objectives set the results to be achieved, so comparing those targets with actual results shows how far the organisation has progressed toward them.

The correct answer is A. Objectives should reflect the resources and capabilities available; otherwise, the organisation may set targets it cannot realistically achieve.