What are SMART Goals and Objectives?

SMART is a method used in various industries as an organizational framework. Applying the individual elements of this framework is an effective method of developing goals and objectives. SMART is an acronym representing:

• Specific - Goals should be specific in what is sought to be accomplished and who is responsible for the goal.
• Measurable - Managers must be able to accurately determine progress toward completion and accomplishment of the goal.
• Achievable - Making goals achievable is an important aspect of motivating employees toward completion.
• Relevant - The individual goals and objectives must be relevant to the achievement of higher-level goals and objectives.
• Time-based - You must provide a timeline for the completion of goals as a method of organization and source of motivation.

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Here are some additional tips for effective goals include:

• Fewer goals allow for a focus on whats important.
• Goals should measurably be linked to factors for company success.
• Goals should link past goals with present and future goals.
• Goals should be stakeholder focused - including owners, employees, the community, buyers, and suppliers.
• Goals should generate from or have buy-in from the top.
• Multiple objectives should be assessed collectively.
• Goals must be flexible and capable of change with the environment.
• Objectives must be realistic and based upon research and factual information.

Academic Research on Smart Goals

• SMART goals, SMART schools., O'Neill, J. (2000). Educational Leadership, 57(5), 46-50.
• SMART goals, Haughey, D. (2015). ProjectSmart. co. uk. Np, nd Web, 11.
• Will the real SMART goals please stand up, Rubin, R. S. (2002). The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, 39(4), 26-27.
• The dumb thing about SMART goals for innovation, Prather, C. W. (2005). Research Technology Management, 48(5), 14.
• The development, content validity and interrater reliability of the SMARTGoal Evaluation Method: A standardised method for evaluating clinical goals, Bowman, J., Mogensen, L., Marsland, E., & Lannin, N. (2015). Australian occupational therapy journal, 62(6), 420-427.
• Setting SMART Goals For Smart Staff Development, Avery, E. F. (2012). 
• Set SMART Goals, Barnes, N. Set SMART Goals.
• Motivation, SMART Goals, and Vision, Test, C. 
• When SMART Goals Are Not So Smart, Reeves, M., & Fuller, J. (2018). MIT Sloan Management Review, 59(4), 1-5.
• Making SMART Goals Smarter, LFACHE, L. M. E. M. 
• Performance plans: Smart analysis: Smarter goals, McPhun, H. (2014). Training & Development, 41(2), 32.