Writing SMART Objectives

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Well written objectives clearly define how you intend to achieve project or program outcomes. This

job aid will help you write a SMART objective for an outcome.

SMART objectives contain the following characteristics:

Specific – Use specific verbs that describe observable changes in the outcome as a result of the

project. The chart below suggests specific verbs.

Measurable – Add a numerical target to the objective—something that can be counted.

Audience- or issue-directed – Focus the objective on changes that will occur within the audience,

or to the issue being addressed.

Realistic and ambitious – What is the plausible change within the time frame? Use the target

population assessment and the organization’s SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and

threats) analysis to ensure that the objective is attainable yet challenging.

Time-bound – Set a time limit for achieving the objective.

Action Verbs for Writing Objectives in the Cognitive Domain

Increasing Levels of Knowledge, Skill, or Ability →

Level

Know

Comprehend

Apply

Analyze

Evaluate

Create

Use action verbs when writing

objectives, because they are

observable and measureable

Define

Memorize

Repeat

Record

List

Recall

Name

Restate

Discuss

Describe

Recognize

Explain

Express

Identify

Locate

Report

Review

Tell

Translate

Interpret

Apply

Employ

Use

Demonstrate

Dramatize

Practice

Illustrate

Operate

Schedule

Shop

Sketch

Distinguish

Analyze

Differentiate

Appraise

Calculate

Experiment

Test

Compare

Contrast

Criticize

Diagram

Inspect

Debate

Inventory

Question

Relate

Solve

Examine

Judge

Appraise

Evaluate

Rate

Compare

Value

Revise

Score

Select

Choose

Assess

Estimate

Measure

Compose

Plan

Propose

Design

Formulate

Arrange

Assemble

Collect

Construct

Create

Set Up

Organize

Manage

Prepare

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Write the outcome here:

Answer the questions below, and transfer your answers to the statement at the bottom of the page.

❶ Specific .

What action or change needs to take place to achieve the outcome? Use the cognitive domain verbs to

describe the desired change. In the audience-directed example below, the audience is being taught to

describe research results. Choose words from the Comprehend column, such as describe, discuss, recognize,

or explain.

❷ Measurable _.

What can be counted that will assist with measuring the change? Use numbers or percentages when

possible. In the audience-directed example below, select an appropriate number of participants that will

succeed based on the information from the assessment, 90%. If nothing can be counted, use a proxy

measure for the desired change. In the issue-directed example below, the emergent native species are the

proxy for the invasive species: By December, emergent native species will cover 50% of the treated area.

❸ Audience or Issue _.

Who is the audience, or what is the issue you are trying to affect? Use the name of the audience or describe

the issue. In the audience-directed example below, the audience that is learning to describe research results

is the outreach staff; in the issue-directed example, the issue is invasive species.

❹ Realistic and Ambitious .

What is the plausible change to the issue or the audience that can be expected in the time frame, based on

the assessment of your target population, the organization’s niche from the SWOT analysis, and other

baseline information? In the audience-directed example below, based on the skill level of the outreach staff

and the data to be analyzed, it is plausible that participants will be able to describe research results after

they have attended the training.

❺ Time-bound .

When is the change expected, based on knowledge of the current state? In the audience-directed example

below, if the outreach staff attends a training to learn how to describe research data, it is plausible that

participants will be able to demonstrate their knowledge at the conclusion of the training, which will be at

the end of September.

Insert answers from the questions above into the statement below to create the SMART objective:

❺

❷

❸

❶

❹

By ,

of the will be able to (plausible change) .

ime-bound

Measurable Change in the Audience Specific Action Realistic

By the end of September, 90% of the participating outreach staff will be able to describe research results

and correctly interpret them.

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Examples of Outcomes Used to Develop Objectives

Audience-directed Example

In this example, the outreach staff at the reserve is the audience. Outreach staff members communicate research results to

stakeholders, but they struggle to understand the research well enough to translate it effectively. An internal workshop is

being held for the outreach staff members to teach them how to understand and interpret results from current research.

Outcome: The outreach staff can understand and interpret reserve research data.

SMART Objective: By the end of September, 90% of the participating outreach staff will be able to describe

research results and correctly interpret them.

Specific = describe is a word from the Comprehend column in the chart above and interpret is from the Apply

column.

Measurable = 90% of the participants and correctly

Audience- or issue-directed = outreach staff

Realistic and ambitious = the needs assessment shows that 50% of outreach staff understand research results

and 37% correctly interpret it. It is plausible that after attending three trainings, 90% of the participants will be

able to correctly interpret the results. Trainings will be completed in September.

Time-bound = by the end of September (the conclusion of the training)

Issue-directed Examples

Outcome: Impacts from invasive species in the freshwater marshes will be reversed in the reserve.

1. SMART Objective: By December, 75% of the treated invasive species will not be present in the freshwater

marsh.

Specific = not present

Measurable = 75%

Audience- or issue-directed = invasive species

Realistic and ambitious = based on the research, once the plants are removed and the area treated, the

species will not recur. The stewardship staff has secured a contract to have the plants removed and the area

treated in January, with a follow-up treatment in August. Any surviving plants will be detectable in

December.

Time-bound = December

2. SMART Objective that uses emergent native species as a proxy measure for the invasive species: In May,

eighteen months after the initial treatment of invasive species, emergent native species (that are no longer

outcompeted) will cover 50% of the treated area.

Specific = cover

Measurable = 50% of the treated area

Audience- or issue-directed = emergent native species as a proxy for invasive species

Realistic and ambitious = based on the research, once the invasive plants are removed and the area is

treated, native species that can successfully compete will begin to emerge. The stewardship staff has

secured a contract to have the invasive plants removed and the area treated in January, with a follow-up

treatment in August. Emergent native species will begin to establish themselves the following spring.

Time-bound = Eighteen months after the initial treatment, May