Objectives

Correct answer: C. Check 25 forms by next Monday

The correct answer is C. “25 forms” specifies the quantity, and “by next Monday” gives the deadline. The other statements do not specify both of these details.

Correct answer: C. It should set priorities and balance the objectives

The correct answer is C. An organisation may have several objectives that compete for resources or conflict with one another. Management should set priorities and balance them so that decisions support the organisation’s overall aims.

Correct answer: A. Increase the annual sales revenue of the whole business

The correct answer is A. An organisational objective applies to the business as a whole; increasing the whole business’s annual sales revenue is such an objective. The other choices describe individual tasks, not organisation-wide goals.

Correct answer: A. An objective states the desired result, while a procedure states the sequence of steps for doing the work

The correct answer is A. An objective describes what is to be achieved; a procedure lays out the usual sequence of steps for carrying out an activity. Thus, the objective is the desired result and the procedure is how the work is done.

Correct answer: A. Reduce electricity expenses by 6 percent in the next quarter

The correct answer is A. Reducing electricity expenses by a stated percentage within a defined period is a measurable cost-control objective. The other choices do not directly set a cost-reduction target.

Correct answer: A. It may be weak

The correct answer is A. An objective that is too easy may offer little challenge, so it may not motivate people to improve their performance. Objectives are generally more motivating when they are challenging but achievable.

Correct answer: A. For employees and departments

The correct answer is A. Organisational objectives can be translated into targets for departments and employees, giving them standards against which their performance can be assessed.

Correct answer: A. Human resources

The correct answer is A. Employee attendance is a workforce matter, so reducing absenteeism is an objective in the human-resources area.

Correct answer: B. The organisation’s goals

The correct answer is B. Objectives clarify what the organisation is trying to achieve, so they give managers a basis for making decisions that support those goals.

Correct answer: A. Clear and understandable

The correct answer is A. Clear, understandable wording helps people know what is expected and work toward the objective without confusion.

Correct answer: A. Produce more units per employee-hour using the same resources

The correct answer is A. Productivity measures output in relation to inputs. Producing more units per employee-hour with the same resources increases output per unit of labour input, so it is a productivity objective.

Correct answer: A. They focus attention on important results

Objectives state the results an organisation aims to achieve. They help it focus time and effort on the results that matter most.

Correct answer: A. Because the basis of comparison is not clear

The direct answer is A: the basis of comparison is not clear. Controlling means checking actual performance, comparing it with planned performance, finding deviations and taking corrective action. A clear objective supplies the standard or target for that comparison. Step by step: first set a target; next measure actual work; then compare actual performance with the target; finally correct the difference. If the objective is unclear, there is no definite answer to “What result was expected?” and control becomes weak. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because an unclear objective does not necessarily make the budget increase. Option C is wrong because rules do not automatically end when an objective is unclear. Option D is wrong because employees may still exist; the difficulty is the missing standard, not the absence of workers. Memory cue: no clear target means no fair comparison, and no fair comparison means weak control.

Correct answer: A. Target

An objective is the result that an organisation wants to achieve within a specified period; therefore, “target” is the clearest word for identifying an objective. A technique describes a method of working, while a restriction and a sequence do not state an objective. Exam tip: Link words such as target, desired result, and achievement with objectives.

Correct answer: B. An objective

This is an objective because it states a measurable result—answering 90% of complaints—and sets a time period: next month.

Correct answer: A. It makes it possible to assess the result against the required quality

A stated quality standard gives a basis for checking whether the result meets the required level. It therefore makes evaluation clearer.

Correct answer: A. An objective states a desired result; a budget expresses expected results in numerical terms

An objective specifies a result the organisation wants to achieve. A budget is a plan expressed in numerical terms, such as money, quantities or other figures.

Correct answer: A. Human resources

Training employees and tracking their completion are human-resource activities, so this target relates to the human-resources function.

Correct answer: A. When actual performance differs meaningfully from the target and the cause of the deviation has been identified

In controlling, actual performance is compared with the target. If this reveals a meaningful deviation, identifying its cause helps determine whether corrective action is needed.

Correct answer: A. An organisation may have several objectives

Multiplicity of objectives means an organisation pursues several objectives at the same time, such as profit, growth and service to society.

Correct answer: A. Objective

The direct answer is option A, Objective. An objective is a desired result that an organisation wants to achieve. It is often stated clearly, can be measured, and may include a time limit. Here the company wants packing errors to remain below 4 percent during the next two months. Step by step: identify the desired result—fewer than 4 percent errors; identify the measurement—4 percent; identify the time period—two months. These features make it an objective. Option A is correct. Option B, policy, is a general guide for decisions, not a specific numerical result. Option C, rule, is a compulsory instruction about what must or must not be done. Option D, method, explains the manner or procedure used to perform work. Thus the statement gives the destination or target, not the policy, command, or procedure. Exam cue: a measurable result with a deadline usually signals an objective.

Correct answer: B. Marketing objective

The objective concerns generating more enquiries through a promotional channel, so it is a marketing objective.

Correct answer: A. It makes the target measurable

A number gives a clear measure for assessing progress or results, making the objective measurable.

Correct answer: A. Sell 250 units next month

The direct answer is A, sell 250 units next month. A sales objective states the sales result an organisation wants to achieve, usually in terms of a number of units, value or percentage and often within a time period. Here, “250 units” gives the measurable sales quantity and “next month” gives the deadline. Option A is correct because it is directly about selling goods and contains a clear target. Option B, stop entry without a pass, is a security rule or policy, not a sales objective. Option C, check the bill first, is a procedure because it tells someone what step to follow. Option D, speak politely to an employee, is a behaviour expectation and not a sales result. The manager can compare actual units sold with 250, so the target is measurable. Exam cue: sales objective means product quantity or sales value plus a time limit.

Correct answer: A. Because vague objectives make measurement and control difficult

Clear objectives provide a definite result to assess. If an objective is vague, it is harder to measure performance and take corrective action.