MBO again, The Management Strategy for Today.

During the current Covid-19 crisis, when millions of employees around the globe are working from home (WFH), we have noticed some organizations had struggled in managing their workforce and their productivities despite the fact that they have all the required technologies, systems and the proper infrastructure.

Many executives from well-known organizations were seen on TV shows lecturing on how to ensure business continuity during these difficult times and all what they have talked about are systems and infrastructure.

Definitely having the right system/infrastructure/technology is crucial, however, Working from Home (WFH) needs to have the right management strategy and technique. Managers who are process oriented or can’t delegate will not find it easy in managing their remote teams and consequently will negatively impact business continuity.

When Peter Drucker suggested in the 50’s that, if employees are given clear goals, they can figure out how to achieve these goals without constant supervision from the manager, did not know that his management strategy, Management by Objectives (MBO)will be the best strategy in these unprecedented times.

Management by Objectives will be the right management strategy for remote working as it is a result oriented rather than process oriented.

MBO will require to have the following: –

1- Clear Organizational Goals

2- Individual Performance Objectives

3- Progress Monitoring

4- Evaluation

5- Reward

For a successful implementation of this management technique, managers need to TRUST their employees and to DELEGATE. As a result, employees will be motivated to accelerate their achievements as they feel they are in control and no one is looking over their shoulders.

Goals and objectives must be very clear to employees which will definitely require more intellectual and proper leadership by managers.

In brief, MBO is a result-oriented technique that requires clear objectives given to employees by a manager who knows the organization goals and can effectively delegate without losing control.

Khalid Alghamdi

Managing Director

LMC