SMART objectives

4.8 Clear objectives are vital for successful policies, programmes and projects. Identifying objectives begins at the outset or when making the case for change (part of the strategic dimension in HM Treasury Business Case guidance). A lack of clear objectives limits effective appraisal, planning, monitoring and evaluation. Objectives should be SMART:

  Specific

 Measurable

  Achievable

  Realistic

  Time-limited

4.9 Up to 5 or 6 SMART objectives should be established. More than this means an intervention is likely to be poorly focussed and could under-deliver. Usually SMART objectives are expressed as changes in outcomes an intervention is designed to produce (the consequences of change in service or policy) and in some cases the expected outputs (e.g. the levels or quality of service delivered). When part of a wider programme, project objectives may need to be described as outputs.

4.10 These objectives may be described as increases in existing service levels, the delivery of new services or changes to service efficiency and effectiveness. Where cost reduction or improved efficiency are the objective, the SMART objectives also need to include the potential effects on quality of services delivered. Business needs are changes an organisation needs to make to its own operations to deliver changes in outputs required to meet the SMART objectives. SMART objectives should be objectively observable and measurable so they are suitable for monitoring and evaluation (see Chapter 8).