Project Objectives and Its Role in Successful Project?

It is difficult to step ahead toward an unknown destination. That’s why a project manager needs to list out the project objectives and drive the team toward success. By utilizing Orangescrum – project management software, PMs and team members can efficiently plan and ensure on-time project delivery.

When managing targets for direction and purpose, a visible list of these goals helps in achieving them. The PM should be aware of how to write project objectives for the team. Breaking the major tasks into simple steps makes it uncomplicated to complete what’s ahead. This article tells some light on what these objectives are and how they can be managed in attaining the project goal. Let’s jump into it.

Project Objectives – Definition

In simple terms, project objectives are a set of goals that the project should achieve. They will impact the project life cycle, and hence they are vital in creating the project at the outset. The best way to ensure the objectives are specific and well-defined is to use a project management objective for the project flow.

In project management, we have the technique called SMART Project Objective that develops personal and business project plans very effectively. SMART is defined as something Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let’s catch up with a brief on each segment.

(Source – slingshotapp.io)

Specific

When the objectives of the project are comprehensive, it can lead to a lack of concentration and enthusiasm. For example, it’s difficult to get excited about a goal of “raising sales,” but if your project goal is to “raise sales by 18% above last quarter’s sales,” you and your team will know exactly what to aim for and will be able to better develop and execute a strategy to achieve it.

When developing objectives, strive to define the five Ws of each goal:

• What do you want to achieve?
• Why it is important?
• Who is involved?
• Where it is needed? And
• What resources or constraints will be in play?

Measurable

Your objectives must be measurable to know just how far you’ve come. Furthermore, quantifiable targets will allow you to track progress throughout the project life cycle and will assist you in staying focused and on track to reach the deadline.

Measurable objectives should address the concerns of how much, how many, and how to know when the target has been met.

Attainable

When you create unreasonable and unattainable project goals for yourself and your team, you set yourself and your team up for failure. Set yourself up for success by ensuring that your goals are genuinely attainable given the resources you have at your disposal and the limits you face.

An attainable project goal can stretch your team’s abilities while remaining within their grasp. Setting reasonable but tough goals can encourage you to find previously neglected possibilities or resources that can help you along the way.

Relevant

A relevant project aim is aligned with other business goals and is valued by the organization or the client.

Time-bound

Finally, effective project objectives have a set end date or deadline. When tasks are not time-bound, it is easy to become distracted and lose sight of the goals. Well-defined project milestones and deadlines will keep the project team on track to complete their duties on time.

SMART Goals vs. Project OKRs

Project OKR stands for “objectives and key results,” which is a management framework used to create goals and identify metrics to track progress. Your goals are your destination, and important results are the road map that will lead you there.

SMART Project Objectives are similar to these important results in that they both provide a method for developing goals that are practical, quantifiable, and time-bound. Project OKR, on the other hand, considers goals in the context of the broader corporate mission. With quarterly cycles, mid-quarter progress check-ins, and a cascade OKR structure, the OKR framework is a little more defined.

In short: SMART is a guideline for individual goal-setting, but OKRs provide a framework for defining company-wide goals.

Writing Project Objectives

The objectives may appear to be basic. However, when it comes to developing and expressing objectives, a tiered system is worthwhile. Here are some tips on how to write a SMART project objective:

1. Begin by developing a concept.

A concept should be the first step in any project. Consider this the high-level overview that describes the project’s direction and aims, even if it is unrealistic. The concept informs the strategy, therefore its fine if it’s a little high. The concept should inspire and drive your project team.

2. Outline your goals.

After you’ve established your concept, it’s time to define your goals. Goals are similar to objectives in that they are high-level and often broad or long-term in scope, but they are the driving force behind objectives. In other words, these objectives are the means through which you hope to attain your goals.

3. Describe the objective of your project.

You are now ready to create project objectives. These are the specific statements that outline the outcomes that the project hopes to achieve. As previously stated, project objectives should follow the SMART approach for optimal impact.

Conclusion:

Project objectives are essential for project managers to drive a team toward success. These goals give direction to the team and help them get focused on the goal rather than just on their own projects. They help managers to create a vision for their team and make sure the team members are aware of it.

In order for a project to be successful, you need to clearly define its objectives. The objectives should be realistic, well-planned, and measurable. By developing project objectives, you can create a plan for your team to reach the goals. Once you have an objective, you can break it down into smaller objectives that have sub-goals.

A project manager should be aware of how to create SMART project objectives and how to manage them through the project life cycle. Project management software like Orangescrum helps project managers to create SMART project objectives. Sign up to Orangescrum now. It’s completely free for 15 days with all features.