There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives

• Objectives should align with both overarching goals and specific action plans.
• The SMART criteria provide a balance between ambition and practicality, ensuring objectives are both actionable and motivational.
• While not all objectives may meet every SMART criterion, using the framework ensures a structured approach to goal-setting.
• Organizations that adopt SMART practices often see improvements in alignment, accountability, and results.

In his seminal article, George T. Doran introduces the acronym SMART, a framework for setting effective objectives that are:

• Specific: Focused on a particular area for improvement.
• Measurable: Quantifiable or indicative of progress.
• Assignable: Clear about who is responsible.
• Realistic: Achievable within given resources.
• Time-related: Bound by a timeframe for completion.

Doran argues that the process of setting clear objectives is often misunderstood or avoided due to the anxiety it generates among managers. By simplifying the process with SMART, organizations can foster better communication, reduce stress, and integrate goal-setting into everyday management practices.

Doran, G. T. (1981). There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives. Management Review, 70(11), 35–36.