SMART criteria

SMART criteria for goals, objectives, plans, tasks, etc.:

• Specific: target one area clearly and precisely.
• Measurable: quantify progress toward success by using metrics.
• Actionable: able to start, sustain, and complete; achievable.
• Relatable: causally and logically connected; relevant.
• Timely: occurring at a time that is favorable, opportune, and bounded.

Wikipedia: SMART critera

SMARTER criteria adds two letters:

• Evaluate: examine the work in progress and after, to adjust as needed.
• Reward: Recognize success, acknowledge achievements.

Related FAST criteria:

• Frequently discussed: shape the key discussions for getting work done.
• Ambitious: intended to satisfy high aspirations and challenging to achieve.
• Specific: target one area clearly and precisely.
• Transparent: open, clear, and shared with the team and organization.

Specific

Target one area clearly and precisely.

Questions that may help:

• Scope: What is in scope versus out of scope?
• Functionality: What are the inputs, people, processes, and outputs?
• Understanding: What is the terminology, ubiquitous language, etc.?
• Results: What are any objectives, outcomes, impacts?
• Phrasing: Can you use positive phrases and action verbs?

Alternatives:

• Strategic: relating to the identification of long-term or overall aims and interests and the means of achieving them.

Measurable

Quantify progress toward success by using metrics.

Questions that may help:

• What metrics are being used and why?
• How do measurements help manage the work and improve it?
• What are the key performance indicators?
• What are any leading indicators and lagging indicators?
• How do various stakeholders access the metrics?

Alternatives:

• Motivating: stimulate interest in, or enthusiasm for, doing something.

Actionable

Achievable, meaning able to start, sustain, and complete.

Questions that may help:

• Who is working on this? List any roles, responsibilities, participants, etc.
• What resources are needed? List any inputs, materials, budgets, approvals, etc.
• How are the challenges? List any risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies, etc.

Alternatives:

• Achievable, Accomplishable, Attainable: can be successfully completed.
• Assignable: can be given to a person or team who are responsible.
• Agreed: discussed or negotiated and then accepted by all parties.
• Action-oriented: willing or likely to take practical action to deal with a problem or situation.
• Ambitious: intended to satisfy high aspirations and challenging to achieve.
• Aligned: coming together in agreement or alliance.

Relatable

Explain causal and logical connections to other areas.

Questions that may help:

• Can you summarize the purpose, rationale, etc.?
• Can you summarize the context, connections, etc.?
• How does this relate to the participants, their roles, and goals?
• How does this interconnect with other work, such as positively or negatively?
• Can you describe the impact, in terms that relate to adjacent goals and plans?

Alternatives:

• Relevant: closely connected to what's happening and being considered.
• Realistic: having or showing a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected.
• Resourced: provided with materials, money, staff, and other assets necessary for effective operation.
• Reasonable: sensible, appropriate, and fair.
• Results-based: focused on valuable outcomes.

Timely

Occurring at a favorable or useful time and opportune.

Questions that may help:

• When does this start and finish?
• Why is the timing important? For example a set duration or set deadline?
• Where can participants see a timeline, or calendar, or schedule, etc.?
• How do you track the time spent versus the work in progress?
• Is there anything important that happens before this or after this?

Alternatives:

• Trackable: can be tracked, or monitored, or analyzed. Time-based, time-bound, time-boxed, time-limited: for a specified amount time.
• Time-sensitive: has to be done by a particular time, or in a particular period.
• Timeframe: a period of time, especially a specified period in which something happens.
• Testable: able to be tested or tried.
• Transparent: open, clear, and shared with the team and organization.

Evaluate

Examine the work progress, the participants' performance, and changes over time, and adjust as needed.

Questions that may help:

• What are lessons learned, both during the work and after it?
• What changes are possible, or recommended, during the work and after it?
• How do the participants update their SMART criteria during work in progress?

Alternatives:

• Examine: look at something carefully in order to make judgments.
• Edit: make changes to something in order to improve it.

Rewardable

Recognize success, acknowledge achievements.

Questions that may help:

• When milestones are reached, what kinds of rewards will be given?
• Do participants have any ideas for rewards, or preferred rewards?
• What are comparable rewards for similar work at other organizations?

Alternatives:

• Reworkable: able to be revised, readjusted, retuned, etc.
• Reviewable: examined, or inspected, or approved.
• Reflectable, Retrospectable: able to be looked back on, such as for lessons learned, or continuous improvement, etc.