People can read their manager's mind
In the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill" a sergeant would constantly be on the Marines to be clean shaven. Shaving was beside the point and an activity that the Marines could control unlike the battlefield. At the end he made clear that constantly being on everyone's ass about shaving was to keep the Marines moving forward through the battlefield.KPIs and all are great, but matter little if a company is not making money for shareholders it first and foremost goal.