GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Contrary to popular belief, goals and objectives are not the same. Goals are statements or descriptions of intent that describe what to achieve in the future. They are broad rather than specific. An example is: “Build a world-class product.”

Objectives, on the other hand, are specific, measurable items that tell whether the goal has been achieved. One or more objectives lead to the achievement of a goal or several goals. An example is: “Build software modules with a level of quality that is no less than six sigma.”

The advantages of goals and objectives are threefold. One, they provide unity of direction for an organization (e.g., company, project team). Two, they provide an ability to track progress. Three, they provide a means for determining the effectiveness of work.

for Developing and Using Goals and Objectives

• Define the overall goals you want to achieve.
• For each goal, list the objectives.
• Ensure that all people involved with the attainment of goals and objectives provide input.
• Develop measurements to determine how well the objectives are being met.
• Consistently take measurements to track progress.
• Publicize the goals and objectives.