SMART Goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound)
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Goals and objectives are deeply inherent in project -, program -, and portfolio management as they are found in projects, program, and portfolios. The goals and objectives range from overarching business and strategic goals of companies and organizations, which the project, program, and portfolios must fulfil and be aligned with, to the specific and concrete goals of a single project. Consequently, are a goal-setting framework like SMART, or S.M.A.R.T, goals essential and extremely relevant. The SMART goal framework enables the managers to understand the goals of the project, program, or portfolio, and ensure that the goals they are pursuing are the right one and as they will move the project, program, or portfolio in the right direction. This article's main focus will be on SMART goals in project management; however, it is of utmost importance for program managers and portfolio managers and can easily be translated into usage in these areas. | Goals and objectives are deeply inherent in project -, program -, and portfolio management as they are found in projects, program, and portfolios. The goals and objectives range from overarching business and strategic goals of companies and organizations, which the project, program, and portfolios must fulfil and be aligned with, to the specific and concrete goals of a single project. Consequently, are a goal-setting framework like SMART, or S.M.A.R.T, goals essential and extremely relevant. The SMART goal framework enables the managers to understand the goals of the project, program, or portfolio, and ensure that the goals they are pursuing are the right one and as they will move the project, program, or portfolio in the right direction. This article's main focus will be on SMART goals in project management; however, it is of utmost importance for program managers and portfolio managers and can easily be translated into usage in these areas. | ||
| − | The SMART goals framework is utilized in the purpose perspective of projects and is an excellent help for project managers, teams, and companies when defining the project's purpose and goals. Therefore, is it extensively utilized when the defining the scope of a project, the ISO 21500 standards are defining the Define scope as: ''"The purpose of Define scope is to achieve clarity of the project scope, including objectives, deliverables, requirements and boundaries, by defining the end state of the project"'' <ref name="ISO">ISO. (2013).Guidance on project management. ISO 21500:2013. The International Organization for Standardization.''. https://sd.ds.dk/Viewer?ProjectNr=M268368&Status=90.20&Inline=true&Page=1&VariantID=46</ref> <br> | + | The SMART goals framework is utilized in the purpose perspective of projects and is an excellent help for project managers, teams, and companies when defining the project's purpose and goals. Therefore, is it extensively utilized when the defining the scope of a project, the ISO 21500 standards are defining the Define scope as: ''"The purpose of Define scope is to achieve clarity of the project scope, including objectives, deliverables, requirements and boundaries, by defining the end state of the project"'' <ref name="ISO">ISO. (2013).Guidance on project management. ISO 21500:2013. The International Organization for Standardization.''. https://sd.ds.dk/Viewer?ProjectNr=M268368&Status=90.20&Inline=true&Page=1&VariantID=46</ref>. <br> |
The applicability of SMART goals in this phase is obvious, and extremely important since there exist within research an agreement that project without a well-formulated goals lacks purpose and accountability. <ref name="Osahon">Ogbeiwi, Osahon. (2017). Why written objectives need to be really SMART. British Journal of Healthcare Management. 23. 324-336. 10.12968/bjhc.2017.23.7.324.''. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318390296_Why_written_objectives_need_to_be_really_SMART</ref> However, the SMART goal framework is not exclusively reserved for the initial project phase, as it is highly applicable throughout the project management phase. It can be used during the project's execution to help drive the project forward and project participants to set personal goals and be motivated through these. <br> | The applicability of SMART goals in this phase is obvious, and extremely important since there exist within research an agreement that project without a well-formulated goals lacks purpose and accountability. <ref name="Osahon">Ogbeiwi, Osahon. (2017). Why written objectives need to be really SMART. British Journal of Healthcare Management. 23. 324-336. 10.12968/bjhc.2017.23.7.324.''. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318390296_Why_written_objectives_need_to_be_really_SMART</ref> However, the SMART goal framework is not exclusively reserved for the initial project phase, as it is highly applicable throughout the project management phase. It can be used during the project's execution to help drive the project forward and project participants to set personal goals and be motivated through these. <br> | ||
The acronym SMART has a lot of different interpretations, which for some have evoked a rising resistance<ref name="Rubin">Rubin, Robert. (2002). Will the real SMART goals please stand up?. 39. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Will-the-Real-SMART-Goals-Please-Stand-Up-Rubin/420c9bf14b34d26b2e0e047b0da0a30e5d06f153</ref>. Nonetheless, are SMART goals widely utilized and popular as businesses have found it to be a clear, simple, and valuable framework for managing and setting up goals, that are easily applicable and give a clear, focused direction | The acronym SMART has a lot of different interpretations, which for some have evoked a rising resistance<ref name="Rubin">Rubin, Robert. (2002). Will the real SMART goals please stand up?. 39. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Will-the-Real-SMART-Goals-Please-Stand-Up-Rubin/420c9bf14b34d26b2e0e047b0da0a30e5d06f153</ref>. Nonetheless, are SMART goals widely utilized and popular as businesses have found it to be a clear, simple, and valuable framework for managing and setting up goals, that are easily applicable and give a clear, focused direction | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 11 February 2021
Contents |
Abstract
Goals and objectives are deeply inherent in project -, program -, and portfolio management as they are found in projects, program, and portfolios. The goals and objectives range from overarching business and strategic goals of companies and organizations, which the project, program, and portfolios must fulfil and be aligned with, to the specific and concrete goals of a single project. Consequently, are a goal-setting framework like SMART, or S.M.A.R.T, goals essential and extremely relevant. The SMART goal framework enables the managers to understand the goals of the project, program, or portfolio, and ensure that the goals they are pursuing are the right one and as they will move the project, program, or portfolio in the right direction. This article's main focus will be on SMART goals in project management; however, it is of utmost importance for program managers and portfolio managers and can easily be translated into usage in these areas.
The SMART goals framework is utilized in the purpose perspective of projects and is an excellent help for project managers, teams, and companies when defining the project's purpose and goals. Therefore, is it extensively utilized when the defining the scope of a project, the ISO 21500 standards are defining the Define scope as: "The purpose of Define scope is to achieve clarity of the project scope, including objectives, deliverables, requirements and boundaries, by defining the end state of the project" [1].
The applicability of SMART goals in this phase is obvious, and extremely important since there exist within research an agreement that project without a well-formulated goals lacks purpose and accountability. [2] However, the SMART goal framework is not exclusively reserved for the initial project phase, as it is highly applicable throughout the project management phase. It can be used during the project's execution to help drive the project forward and project participants to set personal goals and be motivated through these.
The acronym SMART has a lot of different interpretations, which for some have evoked a rising resistance[3]. Nonetheless, are SMART goals widely utilized and popular as businesses have found it to be a clear, simple, and valuable framework for managing and setting up goals, that are easily applicable and give a clear, focused direction
[4] [5].
This paper aims to explain SMART goals to other project participants so that they are ready to go out and apply the framework to their project, program, or portfolio, thereby enhancing these. Therefore, is the paper initiated by a brief explanation of goal-setting theory as it is the foundation on which SMART goals build upon. Thereafter, follows an in-depth explanation of the SMART goals, where I will describe SMART goals and its purpose. Hereafter will a guide on how to use the framework be presented. It will be utilized on a practical example—thereby showcasing how to utilize the outlined approach, the applicability of SMART goals, and the benefits of its usage. The paper ends with a critical reflection and investigation on SMART goals and its limitation. Here, I will provide the reader with the most profound limitations and criticism of SMART goals, to enable the reader to know both pros and cons of the framework, and I will briefly present an extent to SMART goals called SMARTER.
Parts of the literature regarding SMART goals distinguish between goals and objectives with objectives referring to a sub-goal that expresses the desired outcome: a short-term effect or change expected to result from the outputs of activities performed [2]. This will not be the case in this paper as the terms will be used interchangeably, since SMART goals are applicable on both and it is of the authors' opinion that a strict division will not benefit the intended reader.
Goal Setting Theory
- Why is goal setting important
- Which problems does goal setting solve?
- How does SMART and goal-setting theory link
- How do SMART Goals solve the problem?
The SMART Goal Framework
What is the purpose of SMART?
Explanation of the Accronym
XXX
S: Specific
XXX
M: Measurable
XXX
A: Attainable
XXX
R: Relevant
XXX
T: Time-bound
XXX
Benefits of SMART Goals
XXX
Application of SMART Goals
What characterises the process How is it utilized? What is the good practice within it?
Step-guide to usage
Provide a step guide on how to use it
Application Example of SMART Goals
A concrete example in which you utilise SMART Goals.
- Have a goal you are starting with
- Utilise the outlined application process of SMART Goals to make the goal SMART <be>
Outcome
- Highlight why it is SMART and what it does for the goal
Limitations
General limitations of SMART
Building Upon SMART
SMARTER and others that build upon SMART to improve and thereby counter limitations
Annotated bibliography
Short intro
- Ref 1: Text explaining the reference
- Ref 2: Text explaining the reference
- Ref 3: Text explaining the reference
Bibliography
- ↑ ISO. (2013).Guidance on project management. ISO 21500:2013. The International Organization for Standardization.. https://sd.ds.dk/Viewer?ProjectNr=M268368&Status=90.20&Inline=true&Page=1&VariantID=46
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ogbeiwi, Osahon. (2017). Why written objectives need to be really SMART. British Journal of Healthcare Management. 23. 324-336. 10.12968/bjhc.2017.23.7.324.. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318390296_Why_written_objectives_need_to_be_really_SMART
- ↑ Rubin, Robert. (2002). Will the real SMART goals please stand up?. 39. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Will-the-Real-SMART-Goals-Please-Stand-Up-Rubin/420c9bf14b34d26b2e0e047b0da0a30e5d06f153
- ↑ Haughey, Duncan. (2014) A BRIEF HISTORY OF SMART GOALS. Project Smart ~ Exploring trends and developments in project management today. Retrieved February 7, 2021. https://www.projectsmart.co.uk/brief-history-of-smart-goals.php
- ↑ Lawlor, K.B. & Hornyak, M.J.. (2012). Smart goals: How the application of smart goals can contribute to achievement of student learning outcomes. Dev Bus Sim Exp Learn. 39. 259-267.. https://journals.tdl.org/absel/index.php/absel/article/view/90
