Introduction to the Student

Abstract

This exercise is designed to increase your understanding of an important aspect of management by objectives, the objective-setting interview. From reading about NBO you know that objectives are mutually set and agreed upon by the subordinate and his immediate superior. But you probably have not given much thought to what subordinates or superiors do before, during, or after the objective-setting interview. Since a manager can be both a subordinate in the MBO interview (e.:., a supervisor in an objective-setting interview with a middle-level manager) and a superior in the MBO interview (e.g., a supervisor in an objective-setting interview with a line employee), knowledge of both roles is very important. This exercise has two parts. Read the Carbox Company incident below and complete the exercise as directed.