Dictionary-of-Human-Resources-Management

O & M 180 obsolete
O
O&Mabbr organisation and methods
OAP abbr old age pensioner
object /əbdʒekt/ verb to refuse to do
something or to say that you do not accept
something (NOTE: you object to
something)
objection /əbdʒekʃən/ noun to
raise an objection to something to object
to something The union delegates
raised an objection to the wording of the
agreement.
objective /əbdʒektIv/ noun something
which you hope to achieve The
company has achieved its objectives.
We set the sales forces specific objectives.
Our recruitment objectives are
to have well-qualified and well-placed
staff. long-term or short-term objective
an aim which you hope to achieve
within a few years or a few months to
achieve one’s objectives to do what
you set out to do The company has
achieved almost all its objectives. adjective
considered from a general point
of view rather than from that of the person
involved You must be objective in
assessing the performance of the staff.
They have been asked to carry out an
objective survey of the market. (NOTE:
the opposite is subjective)
objective setting /əbdʒektIv
setIŋ/ noun the process of planning targets
(e.g. for negotiations). management
by objectives
objective test /əbdʒektIv test/
noun a test where each question has
only one possible answer (NOTE: the opposite
is subjective test)
obligation /ɒblIɡeIʃ(ə)n/ noun a
duty to do something There is no obligation
to help out in another department
to be under an obligation to do
something to feel it is your duty to do
something
obligatory /əblIɡət(ə)ri/ adjective
necessary according to the law or rules
Each member of the sales staff has to
pass an obligatory medical
examination.
observance /əbzv(ə)ns/ noun doing
what is required by a law The
company’s observance of the law concerning
discrimination.
observation /ɒbzəveIʃ(ə)n/ noun
the act of noticing what is happening
observational method /ɒbzə-
veIʃ(ə)n(ə)l meθəd/ noun a way of
evaluating the performance of employees,
by watching them work and observing
their conduct with others
observe /əbzv/ verb 1. to obey a
rule or law Failure to observe the correct
procedure will be punished. Restaurants
are obliged to observe the local
fire regulations. 2. to watch or to notice
what is happening Officials have been
instructed to observe the conduct of the
ballot for union president.
observer /əbzvə/ noun a person
who observes Two official observers
attended the election meeting.
obsolescence /ɒbsəles(ə)ns/ noun
the process of a product going out of
date because of progress in design or
technology, and therefore becoming less
useful or valuable
obsolescent /ɒbsəles(ə)nt/ adjective
becoming out of date
obsolete /ɒbsəlit/ adjective no longer
used Computer technology
changes so fast that hardware soon becomes
obsolete.
COMMENT: A product or asset may become
obsolete because it is worn out, or