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SMART Objective Setting Guide
Use these guidelines to assess how SMART your objectives are.
Specific
Specific objectives use only one action verb; objectives with more than one verb suggest more than one activity or behavior is being measured. Avoid verbs with vague descriptions of intended outcomes. For example, avoid verbs such as understand or know. How would you measure progress?
Specific objectives cover the five Ws: What, why, who, where, and which. Use this five-point checklist to determine whether your objective is specific.
1. What: What does your organization want to accomplish?
2. Why: Why does your organization want to accomplish this objective?
3. Who: Who is involved? Who are the stakeholders?
4. Where: Where is it going to happen?
5. Which: Which attributes are important? Consider risk and protective factors.
Measurable
It is impossible to determine whether objectives have been met unless they can be measured. The objective serves as a reference point from which a change can be clearly measured. Specific and measurable objectives enable you to establish solid and directed criteria for measuring progress toward the achievement of the objectives.
To assess how measurable your objective is, consider these questions:
1. How will you know when your organization's objective is satisfied?
2. What indicators/processes will your organization use to measure progress and success?
3. As your organization gains momentum on the objective process, how readily available will data be on progress?
Achievable
Achievable objectives can be accomplished given the available resources. To determine how achievable your objective is, consider these questions:
1. Do you have sufficient financial resources to accomplish your objective?
2. Do you have staff with sufficient abilities and skills to accomplish your objective?
3. Do you have sufficient time to accomplish your objective?
4. What other types of resources do you need to attain your objectives? Consider technology, space, equipment, et cetera.
Relevant
Objectives need to relate directly to the overall strategic goal specified in the strategic plan. Ultimately accomplishing the objective will help the organization achieve its major strategic goal. To assess the relevance of your objective, consider these questions:
1. Why is this objective significant?
2. Is it worthwhile?
3. Is it timely?
4. Does it align with other efforts and needs?
Time-Bound
Time-bound objectives have specific starting and ending points. They are of fixed duration. To assess whether or not your objective is time-bound, consider these questions:
1. When will your organization attain this objective or when will the organization measure progress against the objective? This kind of rigor in objective setting also helps with planning and evaluation efforts.
2. When will your organization execute activities to achieve these objectives?
3. When will your organization expect to see short-term outcomes?
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