Key accountabilities are broad areas of a job for which the employee is responsible for producing results. Results also need to include specific objectives that the employee will achieve as part of each accountability.

Objectives are statements of important and measurable outcomes. Discussing results also means discussing performance standards. A performance standard is a yardstick used to evaluate how well employees have achieved each objective.

Organizations that implement a management by objectives (MBO) philosophy are likely to implement results-based performance management systems that include objectives and standards. An emphasis on objectives and standards is likely to allow employees to translate organizational goals into individual goals, which is a key purpose of MBO philosophies.