Incentive

Control (management)

Cognitive psychology

Motivation theory

Theory of planned behavior

Goal setting

Microeconomics

Social psychology

Goal theory

Telecommunications

Economics

Core (optical fiber)

Computer science

Relation (database)

Database

Psychology

Task (project management)

Goal orientation

Management

Artificial intelligence

American Psychologist

The authors summarize 35 years of empirical research on goal-setting theory. They describe the core findings of the theory, the mechanisms by which goals operate, moderators of goal effects, the relation of goals and satisfaction, and the role of goals as mediators of incentives. The external validity and practical significance of goal-setting theory are explained, and new directions in goal-setting research are discussed. The relationships of goal setting to other theories are described as are the theory's limitations.

Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey.