Which activity is a key component of Management by Objectives in ICS?

• A. Establish incident objectives and develop strategies
• B. Conduct safety briefings for all personnel
• C. Define unit performance measures
• D. Schedule equipment maintenance

Answer: (A)

Management by objectives in ICS centers on establishing clear incident objectives and then developing strategies to achieve them. This approach sets the direction for all actions, decisions, and resource allocations so everyone works toward the same goals. Establishing incident objectives and crafting strategies creates the framework that guides coordination, prioritization, and mobilization across the incident.

Safety briefings are essential for establishing awareness and safety, but they belong to safety and coordination activities rather than the MB objectives process. Defining unit performance measures can help track progress, but the core MB objectives step is about setting the objectives and the strategies to reach them. Scheduling equipment maintenance keeps assets ready, but it’s a logistics task, not the MB objectives driver.

So, the activity that best represents Management by Objectives is establishing incident objectives and developing strategies to meet them.