Goals Workshop

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What is a goal?

A goal is something that you can count on to direct your action when you have to make a decision. 

Example Goal:  Do all my homework on time.

Decision scenario 1:  Should I party tonight or do homework?  The thought process might be something like:  "If I party I won't get my homework done tonight and might not contribute to my goal.  So, I'll do my homework first, then, if I have time, I'll party.  That way I don't jeopardize my goal." 

Action:  Work first, then party.

Decision scenario 2:  Should I hang with Bob or Sally.  Sally is a party animal and if I run with her and her friends, I'm likely not to get any work done. Bob is a more quiet kind of friend.  I have an invitation from them both.

Action:  Hang with Bob. Tell Sally, "Maybe later..."

Test of a good goal:  Is it general and can it be used in making decisions?

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Goals can be measured

A goal is something you can easily quantify. They imply objectives that you can either achieve or not. 

Objective:  Do all my homework on time 90% of the time. This goal is measurable because you can count how many times you achieve it.

Test of a good goal:  Is it measurable?

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Goals versus Tasks

A goal is something you want to achieve, a task is a means to doing it.

Doing your homework on time 90% of the time is a goal.  Tasks would be:

• Joining a study group
• Reading assigned chapters in the textbook
• Doing practice exercises to build skills
• Setting up a workspace

Test of a good goal:  Does it imply tasks one could do but not state them?

Goals and scope

A goal implies what is not the goal as well as what is.

Example from the LUG Report:  "Our goal was to provide feedback and data to library staff on the usability of the SPSU Library (“the Library”) Web site and an accompanying GALILEO search tutorial for remote users through needs assessment, heuristic evaluation, and usability testing."

How does this goal statement limit what the group will do?

Test of a good goal:  Does it limit what the group will do?

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Goals Heuristic

1. Test of a good goal:  Is it general and can it be used in making decisions?  How can you revise goals to make them useful in decision making?
2. Test of a good goal:  Is it measurable? How can you revise a goal to make it measurable?
3. Test of a good goal:  Does it imply tasks one could do but not state them? How can you distinguish tasks from goals?
4. Test of a good goal:  Does it limit what the group will do? How can you revise a goal so it sets specific limits on what you do?

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Editing and Reporting Goals

Here are the various goals that the E&R group put together:

Project Goals: meeting deadlines, working smoothly together, accurately and effectively inform the sponsor of changes and suggestions to her website.

Group Goals: consistency of style, clarity of standards, a strong centralized group