Goals and Objectives
Now that your company has a vision and mission statements that support the CSMS. The next step is to develop some broad goals and specific objectives that support the CSMS vision, values, and mission.
Goals
Goals are easy to write. That's because they're nothing more than mere "wishes." For instance, a safety goal might be to:
- "get everyone trained"
- "lower injury rates
- "recognize everyone who exceeds expectations"
- "improve the company's workers' compensation performance"
Operational Objectives and SMART Objectives
Two similar processes for writing objectives are commonly used: operational objectives and SMART objectives.
Operational Objectives: These are action-oriented objectives that describe specific job-related actions that contain action verbs, specific outcomes, quantifiable metrics, a timeframe, assignment of responsibility, and alignment with organizational goals. They focus on the shorter day-to-day operations and activities within an organization.
By incorporating these components into operational objectives, organizations can set clear and actionable goals that drive performance and contribute to the success of the organization's day-to-day operations. Click on the link below for more information on operational objectives.
Operational objectives have the following components:
- Action Verb: An operational objective begins with a clear and action-oriented verb that describes the desired action or outcome. For example, "increase," "reduce," "improve," or "optimize."
- Specific Outcome: The objective should state the specific outcome or result that is to be achieved. It should be specific and measurable, providing a clear target to work towards.
- Quantifiable Metrics: Operational objectives often include quantifiable metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) that define how the outcome will be measured. These metrics should be objective, reliable, and relevant to the objective.
- Timeframe: An operational objective should have a specific timeframe or deadline within which the objective is expected to be achieved. This creates a sense of urgency and helps in monitoring progress.
- Responsibility: Assigning responsibility to a specific individual or team for achieving the objective ensures accountability and clarity of roles. This component specifies who is responsible for implementing and delivering the objective.
- Alignment: Operational objectives should align with broader organizational goals and strategies. They should contribute to the overall mission and objectives of the organization, ensuring that efforts are coordinated and focused.
Example: "Reduce the number of workplace accidents by 20% within the manufacturing facility by implementing and enforcing comprehensive safety protocols, providing regular safety training to all employees, and conducting monthly safety audits, over the next 12 months."
In this example, the objective includes the action verb "reduce," the specific outcome of reducing workplace accidents by 20%, the quantifiable metric of measuring accidents, the timeframe of 12 months, and the responsibility of implementing safety protocols, training, and audits. The objective also aligns with the broader goal of ensuring a safe work environment within the manufacturing facility.
SMART objectives have the following components:
- Specific: Objectives should be well-defined, clear, and focused on a specific outcome. They should answer the questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how.
- Measurable: Objectives should have quantifiable. This enables the assessment of whether the objective has been achieved or not using numbers to measure a desired change. (i.e., 50% increase)
- Achievable: Objectives should be realistic and attainable within the available resources and constraints. They should challenge individuals or teams without being so ambitious that they become unattainable or demotivating.
- Relevant: Objectives should align with broader goals and be relevant to the overall purpose or mission. They should contribute meaningfully to the desired outcome and be aligned with the organization's priorities.
- Time-bound: Objectives should have a specific timeframe or deadline. They should be time-bound to create a sense of urgency, provide a clear timeline for completion, and facilitate effective planning and monitoring.
Example: "Increase customer satisfaction ratings from 80% to 90% within six months by implementing a customer feedback system, improving response time to customer inquiries, and enhancing the quality of customer service training for employees."
- Specific: Increase customer satisfaction ratings from 80% to 90%.
- Measurable: Ratings will be used to track progress and measure success.
- Attainable: The objective is challenging but realistic within the given timeframe.
- Relevant: Enhancing customer satisfaction aligns with the organization's goal of providing excellent customer service.
- Time-bound: The objective has a specific timeframe of six months.
This SMART objective provides a clear and specific target for improving customer satisfaction and outlines the actions to be taken to achieve it. It is measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound, making it an effective goal for the organization.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-3. Goals are easy to write. That's because they're nothing more than _____.
You forgot to answer the question!