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When setting goals or objectives, we are
constantly reminded that they be SMART; an acronym meant to identify certain
conditions that should be met for these intentions to be well planned out. However, for something meant to be so simple,
the variety of words used to describe SMART can sure get confusing.
So what are these various words? Based on a quick review of materials
available, including the Internet, I came across the words below. Those in bold blue represent the more popular
amongst them.
Specific, strategic, significant, stretching, systematic, synergistic,
shifting, simple
Measurable, meaningful, memorable, motivational, motivating, manageable,
magical
Achievable, Attainable,
agreed-upon, appropriate, acceptable, assignable, actionable, action-oriented, action
plans, accountability, acumen
Relevant, Realistic,
reachable, reasonable, resonating, results, results-focused, results oriented,
results-based, rewarding, responsible, reliable, rooted in facts, remarkable,
resourced
Time-bound, Timely,
time-based, time-framed, timed, time-sensitive, time-oriented, time-boxed,
time-specific, timetabled, trackable, tangible, thoughtful
The Wikipedia web site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_(project_management)#cite_note-RapidBI-0
states that “A SMART
objective is one that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and
time-bound.” This really does seem to be the best set of words to use for SMART.
The same web site suggests that the term
SMARTER has started making headway as well, see the RapidBI web site at http://www.rapidbi.com/created/WriteSMARTobjectives.html
for more information and also for lots of working definitions of the words used
for the various SMART models. While the
information behind SMARTER is indeed interesting, it detracts from the original
purpose of encouraging people, both in and out of the management field, to
stick to some simple rules about formulating goals and objectives.
As stated in Wikipedia, “Choosing certain
combinations of these labels can cause duplication; such as selecting
Attainable and Realistic; or can cause significant overlapping as in combining
Measurable and Results; Appropriate and Relevant etc.” That’s why the next few paragraphs will guide
you towards one set of words, or at least a set that has perfectly
interchangeable words, to represent the SMART acronym, i.e. Specific
– Measurable
– Achievable/Attainable
– Relevant
– Time-bound.
Both the words “Specific” and “Measurable”
are clear winners in terms of popular use for “S” and “M” and are very
appropriate in the setting of goals and objectives.
“Achievable” and “Attainable” are the two
most commonly used words to represent “A” in SMART. “Achieve” is defined as “to get or attain as
the result of exertion” and “Attain” is defined as “to reach as an end: achieve
<attain a goal>”. In other words, they’re basically the same
thing. Adding the “able” to the end
means being able to “Achieve” or “Attain”.
This is the one case where one can use either word without harm. I tend to go with “Achievable” but it’s a
matter of style. As for the option “Agreed-upon”,
while it’s commonly understood that goals and objectives should be agreed upon
when it involves an agreement between manager and employee, one can always set
personal goals and objectives using SMART principles without them necessarily
needing to be agreed upon. Therefore, “Agreed-upon”
does not carry the same weight of importance in the action of setting goals and
objectives as “Achievable” or “Attainable”.
“Relevant” and “Realistic” are the two most
commonly used words to represent “R” in SMART.
However, contrary to “Achievable” and “Attainable”, “Relevant” and “Realistic”
do not carry the same meaning. As a
matter of fact, while often defined to try to avoid this, “Realistic” is
actually redundant with “Achievable” and should not really be used in the same
SMART model. While “Relevant” is the
clear choice to use, there are many that do not clearly understand its essence,
i.e. that the goal or target being set by the individual is something that the
individual can/should actually impact or change and that it is also important
to the organization (ref. RapidBI web site).
For example, I could realistically plan, i.e. could be achievable, to
wash my company’s windows every month for the next year. However, is it not really relevant to what I
am expected to do for them.
So now we come to the “T” in SMART. This one varies a lot. The two most commonly used words are “Time-bound”
(or variations thereof) and “Timely”.
While it is indeed important that the goals and objectives be “Timely”,
it is even more important that one understands that they should have some form
of set timing, i.e. be “Time-bound”.
Now, after having determined a suitable
SMART model in English, here comes another interesting challenge. In teaching the importance of SMART goals and
objectives to a French speaking audience, I was challenged with trying to make
the letters reasonably fit a French equivalent.
My stab was: Specific (Spécifique)
– Measurable (Mesurable) – Achievable/Attainable (Atteignable) – Relevant (à Rapport) –
Time-bound (limite de
Temps), although I must admit now liking the expression
“Temporellement limités”. However, a colleague who also
teaches the course suggested: Specific (Spécifique) – Measurable (Mesurable) – Appropriate
(Approprié) – Realistic (Réaliste) – Time-bound or Time
phased (Temps limité ou borné).
While my colleague’s version does not
follow the English standard I am now suggesting, it does make sense insofar at
it simply replaces “Relevant” with “Appropriate” and “Achievable” with “Realistic” and, in doing so,
continues to respect the “A” and “R” in SMART, the five initial key concepts,
and avoids any obvious redundancies.
In seeing
my colleague’s version, I wondered how many other French
models for SMART goals and objectives existed so I took a quick look on the Internet. Here’s a short list of examples:
http://www.12manage.com/methods_smart_management_by_objectives_fr.html
Spécifique
– Mesurable – Atteignable – Réaliste – Temporel
http://zonecours.hec.ca/documents/A2006-1-894396.ObjectifsSMART.doc
Spécifiques
– Mesurables – Atteignables – Réalistes – inscrits dans le Temps
http://carolinehuard.typepad.com/coachblogcity/les_bons_tuyaux_du_coach/index.html
Spécifique
– Mesurable – Ambitieux et Atteignable – Réaliste – Temporel
http://www.ilcanada.ca/upload/audiovideo/ButsSMART.ppt
Spécifiques
– Mesurables – Acceptés – Raisonnables – Temporellement limités
http://www.scn.org/gcad/modules/pd-smaf.htm
Spécifique –
Mesurable – Accessible – Réaliste – bien défini dans le Temps
I also had a student suggest a model used
by her company, i.e.
Spécifique
– Mesurable – Ambitieux – Réaliste – Temps opportun
Unfortunately, most of the examples above
fall into the same “redundant” patterns of those trying to force the word “Realistic” (Réaliste) to
mean something significantly different to “Attainable” (Atteignable). In one case, the model does not align to the
more commonly used words in SMART, i.e. the concept of “Agreed-upon” or
“Accepted” (Acceptés) is introduced for “A”. The
student’s suggestion actually introduces two new concepts where “A” stands for
“Ambitious” (Ambitieux) and “T” stands for “Timely” (Temps opportun). All three of these variations are indeed
interesting points to make on setting objectives but they detract from the
original model.
I’m told the expression “à Rapport”
is not really good French, so I suggest sticking to the French version of: Spécifique – Mesurable – Approprié –
Réaliste – Temps limité ou borné. It may switch the “A” and “R” from the
English model but at least it’s better French and maintains the 5 original key
concepts. As for the English version, I encourage
you to use the SMART model of: Specific – Measurable – Achievable – Relevant –
Time-bound.
As usual, my intent behind writing this is
to continue encouraging the use of common concepts and expressions in order to
truly simplify their understanding and application; a fundamental mission of
all good educators.
Raymond E. Dyer can be reached at: redyer@nortel.com
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