A short term goal is achieved quickly like washing the dishes. A long term goal can take months or years like finishing your studies and graduating.
Another way of identifying well-defined goals and objectives are to see if they are SSMART.
SSMART:
- Simple - do not use complicated words and phrases.
- Specific - clearly identify what will be done.
- Measurable - indicators of progress must be included in the definition.
- Achievable - it must be possible to complete the objective successfully.
- Realistic - no time for daydreaming!
- Time limited.
Properly specified objectives will display most of the following characteristics:
- They are explicit;
- They can be measured and controlled;
- They are ambitious but achievable;
- They are hierarchically related;
- They have time limits.
The following guidelines can assist the team in specifying the objectives:
- Always start with "To”, followed by a verb and the related
measurable result or activity. E.g.: "To build a store room” or "To appraise
the functioning of supervisors in the operations department before 31 August”.
- Use strong, action oriented verbs that describe observable
and measurable behaviour. E.g.: "To design an organisational chart for the
project team” (not: "To attempt to design ...”).
- Phrases like "to ensure that” or "to assist participants to
acquire” do not express the precise action to be undertaken. The verb selected
must be the most descriptive of the activity to be undertaken.
- State only one
purpose or aim. Objectives should not contain two or more verbs. Not: "To
design and install a management information system”
- Specify a single end-product or result. Not: "To build a
dispensary and access road”
- Ensure that progress against the objective is measurable.
Set an indicator of progress against each one. Ask the question, "How will we
know if we have achieved this objective?”
- E.g.: Objective: "To increase sales of new product” should
rather read: "To increase the sales volume of product A to 200 per month (or by
20%) in the next 3 months”
- Read up on industry standards. This will provide a benchmark
to check your indicators and competitiveness against.