SMART goals in project planning and performance management

>>>Work in progress<<<

Considering the obstacles an effective goal setting can encounter such as lacking organisational capabilities or resistance to change, e.g due to individual anxiety, creating and implementing appropriate goals seem to be challenging. However, in a dynamic company environment establishing effective goals followed by developed action plans is of great importance in any project management process. Initially created by George T. Doran in the Management Review, the SMART goals can be classified as an effective goal setting technique. The acronym SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound.

Being in line with the purpose perspective of projects, this goal setting method is not only applicable in professional projects, but also in any project of private nature. Using this tool allows to generate success substantially related to its original efforts, which is of high value for any project manager. Due to the SMART goals' great scope in diverse industrial areas, a deep investigation of the SMART traits and simultaneously a critical reflection of its potential limitations will be conducted as follows.

Introduction to goal setting

Organisations such as companies aim to create benefits and to reach outcomes or goals, respectively. This process is often initiated by establishing a vision which is translated into measureable goals in the project planning phase on an organisation's strategic, tactical or operational level. Next to the performance evaluation of the proposed goals, goals create a direction(QUELLE-MANAGEMENT REVIEW) which allows to be followed throughout the phases of any project management process.

As any managerial task such as a planning process is accompanied by uncertainties that can lead to ambiguity and fallacy, an effective way of setting achievable goals is absolutely essential(QUELLE finden, wo es angesprochen wurde!!!!!) to mitigate negative outcomes(AUSDRUCK).

for success validation necessary

goals also for further development necessary (next to direction) (QUELLE-Managementreview)

defined goals/objectives are in the scope category of project, program and portfolio mgmt (SPM p7)

ADD more about Goals vgl SPM

Why SMART?

Initially created by George T. Doran in the Management Review, the SMART goals can be classified as an effective goal setting technique. The acronym SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound.

SMART goals

Using this tool allows to generate success substantially related to its original efforts, which is of high value for any project manager.

establishing effective goals followed by developed action plans is of great importance in any project management process(QUELLE-MANAGEMENT REVIEW)

applicability in various industrial areas and project management areas >> figure to show scope

>> figure success rate after implementing smart goals towards w/o smart goals

Application: How to be SMART?

Guidance

provide template

Case studies

Project management phases: Planning, performance measurement, time management

>>industrial feedback after smart application<<

>>>Further consideration in program/portfolio management

Limitations

Bias, human resistance

effective goal setting can encounter such as lacking organisational capabilities or resistance to change, e.g due to individual anxiety (QUELLE-Managementreview)-requires critical reflection of capabilities and encountering unpleasant realisation of lacking capabilities

not easy to set appropriate goals (tbd- check QUELLE-Management review)

Other techniques?

goals not ambitious enough

strictly following of guidance can lead to disregard better solutions