Finalising your approach
Project planning: aims and objectives
An aim is a broad statement identifying the purpose of a project. For example, to reduce anti-social behaviour on X estate.
An objective is a detailed statement that clarifies how that aim will be achieved. For example, to achieve a 20% reduction in graffiti over the next quarter.
When starting to plan your project:
- Identify what your main aims and objective are. You might find it easier to think of these as questions that need to be addressed.
- Decide what the outcomes are that need to be achieved
- Clarify what you know already, and where the main gaps that you need to focus on are.
- Decide what tasks need to be undertaken to achieve the aims and objectives.
Before a project is implemented its objectives need to be clearly identified and stated. You may have one or a small number of objectives, with 'sub-objectives' or second order objectives under each one.
To clarify your objectives, you may want to ask yourself the following types of questions:
- What are you looking to achieve?
- How would you know if the project has been a success?
- Have similar projects already been carried out that you could learn from?
- How do your objectives fit with corporate objectives?
- How will you measure whether your objectives have been met?
- How will you ensure that your objectives have an impact?
SMART
It can be useful to think of your objectives in terms of SMART. They should be:
- S pecific
- M easurable
- A chievable
- R elevant
- T ime-bound
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