An MCDM Approach for Resolving Goal Conflict in MBO

Management by objectives tends to focus on one goal or objective at a time or on goals that can be made consistent. Little attention in either literature or practice is given to goals that are to be achieved simultaneously, yet conflict. Recent work in multiple-criteria decision making (MCDM) can help in the formulation of goal-conflict decisions in MBO contexts. Techniques for resolving conflicts between persons can be incorporated in an MCDM framework that explicates conflict among simultaneous goals and reveals value conflicts between managers and subordinates.