Developing objectives
What do you want to achieve or avoid? The answers to this question are objectives. How will you go about achieving your desired results? The answer to this you can call strategy.
–William E. Rothschild
Whether your objectives have been given to you by your boss or you're creating objectives, make sure they are SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound.
For example, one human resources task force charged with developing a new health care benefits plan defined the following SMART objective:
| Example of SMART objective | SMART criteria |
| "To recommend, ... | Achievable |
| ...at the June... | Time bound |
| ...board of directors' meeting, the three... | Specific |
| ...providers that offer the best and broadest coverage at a cost that is at least 10% less than the company's current per-employee contribution." | Realistic and measurable |