objectives

OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT
The objectives must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time oriented (SMART).

• The objectives of the study should be associated with the statement of the problem and clearly state how the problem can be solved.

• The number of objectives proposed is between two (2) and three (3) objectives.

• SMART criteria are recommended as a guide for the writing of project/research objectives.

• Use measurable action verbs when defining an objective (e.g. define, design, identify, describe, analyze, evaluate etc).

• The objectives of the project should be in point form
  e.g:
  The objectives of this project are:
  i. to develop ....................
  ii. to upgrade .......
  iii. to identify.......

What are SMART Objectives?

SMART Objectives are defined as a set of objectives and goals that are put in place by parameters, that bring structure and tractability together. SMART goal setting creates a verifiable trajectory towards a certain objective with clear milestones and an estimated timeline to attain the goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based) :

S – Specific

Begin by defining what it is that you’re trying to achieve. Be specific. Ask the Five W’s: who, what, why, where and which. For example:

• Who is going to be involved in achieving this goal?

• What project management tools will they need to accomplish it?

• Why is the goal important?

• Where will the work be located?

• Which resources are needed to do it?

• Basically, the more you can focus in on the specifics, the more achievable the goal.

M – Measurable

In order for a goal to be SMART, it must be measurable, and in order to track your progress towards your goal, you have to know how to measure it. That keeps you on track and motivates you to finish on time. So, in order to be successful, you need to regularly monitor and assess your progress.

A – Achievable

There’s no point having and measuring a goal that’s impossible to achieve. Therefore, another criterion for a SMART goal is discerning if the goal you’ve defined is realistic. You want to reach beyond what you think is possible (because nothing is achieved by playing it safe), but not so far that the project comes crashing down on top of you.

R – Relevant

The goal is now defined, measurable and achievable, but is it relevant? A SMART goal has to be relevant, and that doesn’t mean just to you but to the organization writ large.

That means your goal, even after meeting all the prior criteria, must now align with other relevant goals because success requires the support and assistance from everyone on the project team. Therefore, it must work in congress with other parts of the project and the overall strategy of the organization.

This creates a whole new set of questions such as, is the goal worthwhile? Maybe the time isn’t right. Does it match other needs? Maybe you’re not the right person to lead this initiative, or maybe it’s not aligned with current economics or social trends. If it offers the right answers to these questions, then it’s relevant.

T- Time-based

A SMART goal will always be time-related because goals often cannot be achieved without a deadline. A deadline serves as a great motivator and can provide context for you to recognize the various tasks necessary to reach that goal in the time allotted. Therefore, giving the goal time constraints helps keep you on track.

Naturally, you must answer questions, such as: when must the goal be achieved? Then get more specific, is that in six months, six weeks, six days? Without a time frame you can’t devise a plan, and the goal will never be realized.

EXAMPLES