How do you define and evaluate project objectives?

1 Align with project vision

Before you define your project objectives, you need to have a clear and compelling project vision. The project vision is the overarching goal or purpose of the project, and it should answer the questions of why, what, and who. Why are you doing the project? What are the benefits and value of the project? Who are the target customers or beneficiaries of the project? The project vision should be aligned with the strategic objectives and priorities of your organization, and it should be communicated and agreed upon by all key stakeholders.

2 SMART criteria

Once you have a project vision, you can start defining your project objectives using the SMART criteria. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These criteria help you to ensure that your project objectives are clear, realistic, and meaningful. Specific means that your objectives are well-defined and focused. Measurable means that your objectives can be quantified and tracked. Achievable means that your objectives are within your scope, budget, and resources. Relevant means that your objectives are aligned with your project vision and stakeholder expectations. Time-bound means that your objectives have a clear deadline or milestone.

3 Break down into sub-objectives

Depending on the size and complexity of your project, you may need to break down your project objectives into smaller and more manageable sub-objectives. Sub-objectives are the intermediate steps or deliverables that contribute to the achievement of the main objectives. For example, if your project objective is to launch a new product, you may have sub-objectives such as conducting market research, developing a prototype, testing the product, and marketing the product. Breaking down your project objectives into sub-objectives can help you to plan, execute, and monitor your project more effectively.

4 Evaluate with KPIs

After you define your project objectives and sub-objectives, you need to evaluate them regularly to ensure that you are on track and making progress. One way to do this is to use key performance indicators (KPIs). KPIs are the metrics or indicators that measure the performance and success of your project objectives. For example, if your project objective is to increase customer satisfaction, you may use KPIs such as customer feedback, retention rate, or net promoter score. KPIs should be aligned with your SMART criteria, and they should be tracked and reported throughout the project lifecycle.

5 Review and adjust

Finally, you need to review and adjust your project objectives as needed based on the feedback, data, and changes that occur during your project. Reviewing your project objectives means that you compare the actual results with the expected results, and identify any gaps, issues, or risks that may affect your project. Adjusting your project objectives means that you make any necessary changes or updates to your objectives to reflect the current situation and expectations. Reviewing and adjusting your project objectives can help you to improve your project performance, quality, and outcomes.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?