Employees of Martin Manufacturing Processes, Inc. (MMPI) are implementing goal-setting as a means for reducing accident rates and employee absenteeism. What recommendation below will lead to the best outcomes for each of those variables?
A) establishing challenging but realistic, specific goals for reducing accident rates and lowering absenteeism
B) giving employees more direct control over how they do their jobs
C) giving employees surveys to determine what level of needs are unmet and encouraging supervisors to use those unmet needs to motivate the desired changes
D) setting general goals like "do your best to be at work each day" and "do your best to act in a safe manner"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Establishing challenging but realistic, specific goals has been shown to be effective in reducing accident rates and absenteeism. This creates a clear target for employees to work towards and can motivate them to take steps towards improving their safety and attendance. General goals like those in option D are unlikely to be effective as they lack specificity and do not provide a clear target for employees to aim for. Option B may have some impact on reducing accidents and absenteeism, but it is not directly linked to goal-setting and may not be as effective as setting specific goals. Option C may be helpful in identifying employee needs, but it does not necessarily provide a clear solution for reducing accident rates and absenteeism.