Limitations and Weaknesses of Goal Setting Theory

1. When two separate goals are set at the same time, exerting too much focus on one may make it difficult to achieve the other (Latham, 2004). 2. This can be fixed by prioritizing separate goals or finding a balance between goals directly dealing with each other. It is more important to have well thought out goals than to have too many and not be able to follow through on any one goal (Gergen & Vanourek, 2009). 3. Another limitation deals with goals and risks. During a computer game study, Knight, Durham, and Locke (2001) found that participants who were given difficult performance goals increased risk strategies to improve performance. 4. Additionally, a limitation that can occur is commonly referred to as tunnel vision. This is when employees focus so intently on their goals that they will ignore other aspects of their job (PSU, 2012). 5. Also, not accounting for an individual’s subconscious actions also provides weaknesses to the goal setting theory (Locke & Latham, 1979, p. 80). 6. This approach also does not account for actions motivated by the subconscious; as the goal-setting theory focuses on cognition with no regard to the subconscious (PSU, 2012). On occasion, an individual can do something without being aware of what is motivating them. 7. Goal-setting theory focuses on how goals are related to job performance, but does not take into account the "why", and does not account for why setting goals is linked to performance (PSU, 2012).