The idea
Predicting someone's actions depends partly on understanding their objectives. A strategy can be well executed yet ineffective because it responds to a goal or success criterion the other person does not share.
Situation
You are preparing a strategy or interpreting someone's behavior without having checked what matters to them.
Useful when
Preparing for a job interviewPlanning a negotiationInterpreting a customer's requestWorking across teams
Watch for
People may have several competing objectives, and their stated goals may be incomplete. Treat your explanation of their motives as a hypothesis to investigate.
Where this came from
Game theory, Multi-agent learning
Example
Before emphasizing technical depth in an interview, clarify whether the interviewer is assessing technical knowledge, collaboration, judgment, or some combination.