Goals Gone Wild: The Systematic Side Effects of Over-Prescribing Goal-Setting
-- Lisa D. Ordonez, Maurice E. Schweitzer , Adam D. Galinsky , Max H. Bazerman, http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/papers/1359.pdf
In this article, we argue that the beneficial effects of goal setting have been overstated and that systematic harm caused by goal setting has been largely ignored. We identify specific side effects associated with goal setting, including a narrow focus that neglects non-goal areas, a rise in unethical behavior, distorted risk preferences, corrosion of organizational culture, and reduced intrinsic motivation.