Butler advocates 'policing by objectives' (PBO), which involves the development of policy in accordance with organizational objectives and the monitoring of police implementation to ensure that policy objectives are met. The authors criticize PBO as being preoccupied with the precise evaluation of set objectives in terms of wider organizational objectives. This may lead to the neglect of the intrinsic value of routine police activities. PBO may also create an intermediate and senior rank of managers committed to objectives not shared by frontline officers. The authors' approach to police management advocates the diagnosis of environmental and organizational problems assailing the police, followed by the development of appropriate strategies for dealing with these problems. Such a managerial approach does not exclude elements of PBO. The diagnostic approach can be preliminary and complementary to PBO. PBO is a mechanism that is only as useful as the thought and analytical processes which police managers use to diagnose those problems policy is intended to address. Without the accurate analysis of problems, the mechanism itself is powerless to produce effective policing. 10 references.