Book Review: Goal Setting: A Motivational Technique that Works!

Goal Setting: A Motivational Technique that Works! by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham discusses in great detail the nature of employee goal setting and how this can improve performance within organizations. The book elaborates on how to set goals in a manner as to produce motivation, implement goals within organizations, and how to design goals that further corporate strategies.

It discusses how goal setting has become supported by science as a plausible method of developing higher forms of activity within organizations. Such concepts as laboratory testing as well as real world validity have been assessed to lend credibility to the overall work. Through these studies the advantages of goal setting include productivity, performance, clear expectations, thwarting of boredom, task satisfaction, performance satisfaction, recognition options, competition, and self-confidence.

There is also some practical advice on how to set goals. The book suggests:

1.) Specify the general objective or tasks to be completed.
2.) Specify how the performance in question will be measured.
3.) Specify the standard or target to be achieved.
4.) Specify the time span.
5.) Rate goals as to difficulty and importance.

The work offers root explanations on how to successfully set goals and encourage both productivity and motivation in the workplace. It is a must read for any person who desires to work in business. Through understanding such basic concepts one can understand a greater method organizational improvement. The work is written at a college degree level and is fairly easy to read and understand. It is an important book to put in your library. Lots of references for expanded reading are included.

Locke, E. & Latham, G. (1984). Goal Setting: A Motivational Technique that Works! Prentice Hall: New Jersey. ISBN 0-13-357467-9

Pages: 171
Blog Ranking: 4.8/5 (no age penalty as it is a root theory book).
Cost: $104 New $20 Used