GOAL STATEMENTS Management Theory and Practice College of Public and Community Service University of Massachusetts at Boston ©2010 William Holmes

GOAL DEFINITION A TARGET TOWARDS WHICH EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED: EMPIRICAL, OBTAINABLE, TIED TO PURPOSE

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Benchmarks Observable Tied to activities Related to standards or requirements Monitored for performance

MONITORING OBJECTIVES Data based Standardized process Produced by normal activity of organization Data compared to standards or requirements Response based on results

GOALS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION Linked to goal related activity Addresses support for goal activity Related to goal importance Includes training and equipment Considers effectiveness as well as efficiency Avoids appearance of corruption

WRITING GOAL STATEMENTS Base on purpose Think about results to be achieved Think of results produced by actions of the organization Think of empirical results Organize from more general to specific Focus on priorities

EXAMPLE GOAL The program will provide parenting education in client’s home to improve parenting skills, parent-child interaction, and appropriate disciplinary practices

EXAMPLE OBJECTIVES Topics of parent education provided Parents playing with children Parents talking with children Parent use of “consequences”, rather than physical punishment Children obeying parents