Key Idea

The next step is to define your project’s objectives. The success of your project will be defined by how well you meet your objectives. Thus, the more explicitly you state your objectives at the outset, the less disagreement there will be at the end about whether you have met them.

When defining an objective, think SMART. In other words, an objective should be:

• Specific, for example, who, when, or how many?
• Measurable, for example, a success rate, or percentage completed
• Action-oriented, for instance, make a recommendation, or, conduct a survey
• Realistic, for example, does it meet your budget parameters?
• Time-limited, for instance, by a specific day or month