What is the purpose of developing objectives for a program?

Before setting your own program objectives you may want to review what peer support programs seek to achieve to consider what is realistic for these types of programs.

What are objectives?

Objectives are the stepping stones towards achieving a program goal. Objectives are concise, specific statements which indicate what you are seeking to change and why, in what target group, by how much and by when.

Why are clear objectives important?

Clear objectives are important to determine whether your program is achieving what it set out to do. It is also important to write program objectives as specifically as possible to provide program clarity and strong links to evaluation. It is much easier to evaluate a program when clear objectives have been developed.

Program objectives are short term outcomes and may seek to measure changes in:

• the environment;
• community response;
• community participation;
• infrastructure development;
• policy development;
• risk factors;
• knowledge and skill development;
• behaviour; and
• attitudes.

Writing and setting objectives

When writing objectives, keep them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time specific):

Specific (concrete, detailed, well defined)

Objectives should specify what you need to achieve. You should use language that is specific, i.e. state the issue, the target group, the time and place of the program. Specific also means that it’s result and action-orientated.

Things you might ask to clarify if your objective is specific:

• What exactly are we going to do, with or for whom?
• Is the objective described with action verbs?
• Is it clear where this will happen?
• Is it clear what needs to happen?
• Is the outcome clear?

Measurable (numbers, quantity, comparison)

You should be able to measure whether you are meeting the objective or not.

Things you might ask to clarify if your objective is measurable:

• What do I want to see changed and by when?
• Can we measure it?
• How will I know that the change has occurred?
• Can these measurements be obtained?
• How will we collect the data?
• Who will collect the data?

Achievable (numbers, quantity, comparison)

You need to be realistic about what can be achieved by the program in terms of the scale/scope of what is being done, the time and resources available.

Things you might ask to clarify if your objective is achievable:

• Can we get it done in the proposed timeframe?
• Do I understand the limitations and constraints?
• Can we do this with the resources we have?
• Has anyone else done this successfully?
• Is this possible?

Realistic (considering resources)

Can you realistically achieve the objectives with the resources you have? Remember that objectives can be staged i.e. achieve x in year 1, achieve y in year 2.

Things you might ask to clarify if your objective is realistic:

• Do we have the resources available to achieve this objective?
• Do we need to revisit priorities to make this happen?
• Is it possible to achieve this objective?
• Have others achieved this?
• Are we expecting too much?

Time Specific(a defined time line)

Be clear in the objectives about the timeframe in which the expected changes of the program will take place.

Things you might ask to clarify if your objective is time-specific:

• When do you want to achieve the set objectives?
• When will this objective be accomplished?
• Is there a stated deadline?

Fundamental to the management of any successful program is an understanding of and agreement on program goals and objectives. A program is generally deemed successful if it meets predetermined business goals and objectives which, in essence, means the program performs the job or solves the problem it was intended to address within the program's timescales, costs and quality restraints.

Goals

1. For business organizations, program goals are blueprints for implementing a firm's mission and vision. The lack of clear program goals will doom a program from the beginning. As the first stage of the program planning process, developing a program goal statement involves identifying the results sought by the program, which is generally articulated as the long-range outcomes sought by the program.

Objectives

1. Program objectives are the nuts and bolts of program goals. Objectives break down program goals into work assignments. For example, this includes setting objectives for matters such as timescales and budgets for specific action plans. In the planning stage, the key to developing program objectives is to break the program down into identifiable phases and into controllable action units. This makes it easier to estimate, plan and control program activities and tasks, as well as to assign responsibilities.

Quality

1. Planning for quality in programs requires paying attention to details and placing a focus on preventing problems rather than simply responding to problems once they have arisen. Quality objectives include getting it right the first time and delivering and improving the value delivered to program end users. Controls such as setting milestones and performing systematic inspections are built in to programs to evaluate processes and procedures for quality standards. This ensures that tasks and activities efficiently fulfill program objectives.

Customer Service

1. Delivery of quality customer or client service during the course of a program should be one of its objectives. Depending on the type of program, this will make the customer want to return or to recommend products and services to others. Organizational objectives related to customer service focuses on understanding customer expectations and assimilating these expectation into the action of program staff.

Timescales

1. Program timescales estimate the amount of time necessary to complete the program objectives, activities and tasks. Timescale objectives involve identifying the earliest time a unit of work can begin, the time duration required for the work unit, and the latest time it can be completed. Time management tools that are used in programs and projects include PERT diagrams and the critical path method, which help with planning timelines.

What is the purpose of developing objectives for a program quizlet?

What is the purpose of program goals and objectives?