The article reports the results of a naturally occurring field experiment which took place in the Judge Advocate function of the Tactical Air Command (TAC), a major command within the US Air Force. Official Air Force goals for courts-martial processing time had existed for years but generally were ignored because they were considered unrealistic and unimportant. A new TAC staff advocate decided that processing time should be improved and took steps to emphasize goal attainment through various procedures. The result was a significant improvement in courts-martial processing time as compared to the rest of the Air Force where no such emphasis occurred. The implications of the results for goal setting theory and leadership are discussed.
[1]
Edwin A. Locke,et al.
Type A behavior and faculty research productivity: What are the mechanisms?
,
1984
.
[2]
E. A. Locke,et al.
Task complexity as a moderator of goal effects: A meta-analysis.
,
1987
.
[3]
Terence R. Mitchell,et al.
Importance of participative goal setting and anticipated rewards on goal difficulty and job performance.
,
1978
.
[4]
E. A. Locke,et al.
Goal setting and task performance: 1969–1980.
,
1981
.
[5]
Miriam Erez,et al.
Effect of goal acceptance on the relationship of goal difficulty to performance
,
1984
.