Targets

I have a somewhat ambivalent attitude towards targets. They can have unintended consequences. Having observed companies audited to death for no other reason than to meet targets, I have seen this in action and recognised that the targets far from adding value to the process, undermined it as well as pissing off everyone involved, including the auditors.

All of this is in mind because my employer is enthusiastically encouraging its workforce to “go the extra mile” for Sports Relief. Given that this is a yetanotherthon and I avoid these like the plague for a variety of reasons, I won’t be going the first mile, let alone an extra one. However, what struck me as odd at best and cheeky at worst was that the store has set a target of £4000 to be raised. So, sure, if it is necessary for the organisation to have business targets, I can see a justification –  bearing in mind my caveat above, but to set targets for people doing something (or not in my case) that is entirely voluntary seems misplaced to me. I wonder what happens if the target is missed? If nothing, what was the point?