project goals and objectives

Project Goals and Objectives define the project outcome and activities required to achieve the desired outcome.

1. Project Management: Project Goals and Objectives Nader Jarmooz 2012

2. Goals and Objectives Projects are planned and implemented in terms of their Goals and Objectives set by the Project Champion and Stakeholders Goals and Objectives must be clearly defined and established at the outset. Goals are outcomes whilst Objectives are activities that will result in the desired outcome

3. Goal and Objectives can be seen as a contract between the project manager and sponsors (Watson, 1998). not set in stone and can be changed with the agreement of those involved should the project requirements change during the process all changes must be agreed upon between the project manager and sponsors, and communicated to project team. Goals and Objectives

4. what are Project Goals and Objective? Goals and Objectives To answer this question three interrelated queries need to be identified: What are the project objectives? What are the outputs from project? What are the criteria for assessing project success? Bee and Bee (1997) argue that the answer to above queries provide the vital foundation for successful completion of all subsequent project stages

5. Project Objectives Vs Organisational Objectives Project Objectives need to be aligned with organisational, team, and individual Objectives to ensure that common focus is set on common goals (Bee and Bee, 1997). Organisational objectives Team Objectives Individual Objectives Organisational Objectives are outcomes that the Firm want to achieve. Project Objectives are the activities involved in achieving the Firm’s goals (Field and Keller, 1998). To ensure successful alignment following issues need to be considered:

6. Developing Goals and Objectives: Objectives are the underlying basis for the project activities and express goals in SMART terms They specify what the outcome will be and what activities are required for agreed gaols Objectives help define the project in terms of its purpose and perceived benefits, therefore it need to contain both quantitative and qualitative information (Turner, 1997). They state final outcomes in terms of improved percentages/ratios, or new products/processes

7. Objectives need to be SMART: S pecific: clearly stated with specific outcomes. M easureable: so the end of each objective can be identified and measured against success criteria A chievable: attainable given the available resources, time, and technology, in accordance with required quality. R ealistic: sensible, pragmatic, and prioritised activities for achieving set goals. T imely: planned and attained tasks according to base line and prioritisation of hierarchy of needs. Developing Goals and Objectives:

8. Objectives are developed within the limits set by the project triple constraints – also known as primary objectives - of time, resources, and scope, in accordance with required quality for project output Developing Goals and Objectives: Cost Quality Scope Time Smith (2008) argues that satisfying all three primary objectives in full is almost impossible. Preferences must be applied in deciding the relative importance of each constraint in relation to goals.

9. Summary Goals are desired outcomes whilst Objectives are a set of activities for achieving goals. They need to be developed and established at the outset and communicated to everyone involved. Project goals and objectives must be aligned with organisational goals and objectives in order to gain approval and contribute to overall organisational strategy. Objectives should be SMART and set within the limits of triple constraint. Goals are broad long term outcomes and objectives are specific measurable short term activities that will articulate project goals .

10. Additional reading for Project Goals and Objectives Defining Project Objectives: http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/defining-project-goals-and-objectives.html http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/use-smart-objectives-to-focus-goals-plans-and-performance.html http://www.ehow.com/how_8689923_write-project-objectives.html Open learn information for Objectives: http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=403254&section=2.5 Using aims and objectives to create a business strategy http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/kelloggs/using-aims-and-objectives-to-create-a-business-strategy/introduction.html#ixzz25ai9PacI Video Tutorials for Setting SMART Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uThBb3kGf4k&feature=related

11. References Bee, R, and Bee, F, 1997, Project Management The People Challenge, London, Cromwell Press Field, M, and Keller L, 1998, Project Management, London, International Thomson Business Press Meredith, J. R., and Mantel, S. J., 1995, Project Management A Managerial Approach, 3 rd Ed, USA, Wiley and Sons. Inc. Smith, N. J., 2008, Engineering Project Management , Oxford, 3 rd Ed, Blackwell Publishing Ltd Turner, J. R., 1997, The Handbook of Project-Based Management, Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Watson, M, 1998, Managing Small Projects, Wokingham, Project Manager Today Publications