When defining objectives, or goals, it’s important to have a clear common understanding of them and to be able to decide if they are achieved or not. One way to do that is by using the Smart model, where smart is an acronym that establishes criteria for ideal goals and objectives.
| Specific | Describe the objective with a clear statement precisely what is required |
| Measurable | It should be possible to answer YES or NO to the question “Is the objective reached?” |
| Achievable | The objective should be challenging but possible |
| Relevant | Focus on the outcomes and not the activities to achieve them. Ensure that the outcome matters to you, the stakeholders and the users |
| Time-bound | Agree on a date when the outcome should be achieved |
There are different variations of what words to use as Smart criterias, for example can achievable be replaced by agreed or accepted and relevant could be replaced by realistic. Use those that suit you best in your context.