Cascading Goals and Objectives to Ensure Accountability and Action

Abstract

Bristol-Myers Squibb Worldwide Beauty Care Group has adopted a methodology that is reaping benefits throughout the company. The underlying principle in cascading goals and objectives is that every employee is accountable for achieving any corporate goals and objectives from the business level to the individual level. This cascading process encompasses the business unit, operations group, facility, and department levels. The institutionalization of goals and objectives is demonstrated by integrating goals that used to be associated with a specific area (e.g., energy, environment, health, or safety) with basic business metrics and thus ensuring action by everyone. Performance is monitored at every level and incentives exist at every level. The cascading methodology has been a paradigm shift and quite successful for the Worldwide Beauty Care Group, Worldwide Clairol, of the Bristol-Myers Squibb company.