FAST Goals

Unfinished work of s164345 FMC

Abstract

Creating a plan is pivotal for the success of any project and the management of said project. Key to any plan is goals: Objectives, milestones or deliverables. Whatever shape the goal takes, without goals a plan is imperfect. Correct utilization of goals is therefore critical for project and project management success. Setting the wrong goals will waste valuable resources, setting the goals too low will result in lower quality outcomes and failure to communicate the goals adequately will leave those within the project without direction. Ensuring high quality of the goals within the project is therefore a skill that project managers must master in order to save time and resources. FAST goals is a framework created to help those setting and managing goals by ensuring the quality of their goals through the acronym 'FAST': Frequently talked about, Ambitious, Specific and Transparent.

Fast goals as a tool within project management is not a guarantee for success on it's own, but incorporating the four pillars of FAST into the many aspects of project management can heigthen the chance of project and project management success. Having high quality goals by itself does help solidify the purpose of a project, but in conjuction with other project management tools the real value of FAST becomes apparent. Tools such as Gannt charts and Work Breakdown Structure synergizes with FAST goals as drivers to reach the goals in a more effective and efficient manner. This article will further explain the meaning and qualities of each of the four letters in FAST, compare it to the similar methodology of SMART goals, as well as exploring the limitations of the FAST goals within project management. The aim of this article is to provide information on the strengths and limitations of the FAST goals, how and when to apply them so that project managers can extract the most value of the methodology.