What does management by objectives primarily focus on?

Management by objectives (MBO) primarily focuses on setting specific measurable goals jointly between management and employees. This approach promotes clarity in expectations and accountability, as both parties agree on objectives that need to be achieved within a certain timeframe. The goal-setting process in MBO is collaborative; it emphasizes the importance of aligning individual employees' objectives with the overall goals of the organization, thereby fostering a sense of ownership and motivation.

In MBO, the establishment of clear, measurable goals allows for better performance evaluation and helps ensure that both managers and employees can track progress. By focusing on outcomes and results, MBO aligns resources effectively to achieve strategic objectives, making it a powerful tool in performance management.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of performance management, do not encapsulate the core principle of MBO. Personal development, while important, is not the primary focus of MBO, which is more about aligning and measuring productivity through goal-setting. Reviewing past performance serves a different purpose in the evaluation process, typically in a retrospective manner rather than a future-oriented objective-setting ladder. Ensuring uniform ratings, while it may contribute to consistency in performance appraisal, does not reflect the individualized and collaborative nature of goal-setting inherent in the MBO approach.