Management by Objectives (MBO) was introduced by Peter Drucker in his 1954 book The Practice of Management. MBO is a process where:

• Managers and employees jointly set specific, measurable objectives
• Performance is evaluated against these pre-set objectives
• Feedback and appraisal are systematic

In nursing management, MBO helps Head Nurses set clear performance targets for nursing staff, improving accountability and service quality. Other options: Frederick Taylor — Scientific Management; Maslow — Hierarchy of Needs; McGregor — Theory X and Y.