How do you set project goals? How do you monitor the progress of goals?

We all have goals. Some are small and some are high. Setting Project goals are extremely important to plan out a project outcome and result. Setting accurate and realistic project goal is essential to ensure a hassle-free implementation.

Everyone in team must have a clear idea of project goals, from stakeholder, project managers, product owners to individual team members, everyone needs to have the same understanding on the same runner. For that, there needs to be a defined objective/goal and process in place for execution.
The most effective method to set up project goals is simply follow below five steps:
• Step 1: Identify your Goals
• Step 2: Define S.M.A.R.T Goals
• Step 3: Create an Action Plan
• Step 4: Set Plan into Action
• Step 5: Monitor Project Execution

Step 1: Identify your Goals
Identification is the first step in the project goal setting process. Without finalizing your project goals, nothing can be determined.
Simply identify that is most important. When undertaking any project, it’s essential to have all three parties – Stakeholder or clients, managers and team to be on the same page. Also, it’s relevant to have a discussion and identify what’s to be achieved and what’s the end objective. As a result, every person involved in the project will have clarity of what needs to be done and will be work out an effective strategy.

Step 2: Define S.M.A.R.T Goals
Next step would be to define the goals that have identified. There are multiple methods which can be used, but the best one is to define project goals is S.M.A.R.T method. It covers all the aspects required to achieve in a particular project. SMART goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely.
Specific
Constantly, people tend to set goals relatively vaguely, simply because vague goals are easier to achieve.
For Example, you’ll have goals of ” create landing pages for the new campaign” tossed into the room at first. I would throw them right back, and I suppose you would, too. There are too numerous questions left open.
A thing should be clearly phrased as specifically as possible, i.e. it should answer all the important 5W1H questions and leave no room for misunderstanding.

Measurable
Did you achieve the objective? Was it a sufficiently achievement? Could and should it have been better? Specific figures (relative values), on the base of which the benefit or advantage of the goal can be classified, help to assess the goal at the end. This is the only way to determine whether it’s actually considered” achieved”.
Achievable
It’s important to assess as precisely as possible in advance which goals are realistic and can actually be achieved. However, this will in all possibility lead to frustration in any case to an overload on the team, if the goals are set too high. Hence is it very important to break down larger project goals into lower attainable subgoals.
Relevant
The goals to be achieved must be relevant. In plain words, they should be in line only with the company’s objectives but also in the spirit of the end user. They must be determined in discussion with all parties involved.
Timely
The last important goal parameter deals with the time element. Every goal that’s set needs a clear due date in accordance of the project timeframe, because this is the only way it can be measured and valued thereafter.

Step 3: Create an Action Plan
Once you have set your project goals, the next step is to create an action plan. When creating an action plan, you need to think about:
• Who needs to be a part of the project?
• What will individual team members be working on?
• What will be the short-term tasks and deadlines to achieve the ultimate goal?

Step 4: Set Plan into Action
After creating an action plan, the next step to set the plan into action!
This step usually includes:
• Assigning tasks to individual team members
• Setting deadlines for each task
• Providing resources to make sure everything is executed in time

Step 5: Monitor Project Execution
Project monitoring is about assessing the current progress of project. It includes the rate of development of project and allocated budget usage. BA or PM monitor the resources that are used or will be needed in future. PM prepares project status report. If project goal requires further time to complete, PM will request for new timelines.
To track goal set project objectives, following methods can be used:
• Create to-do list to track the everyday/weekly/Monthly work and tasks.
• Use different Project Management applications for to track progress.
• Gantt charts are the best way to track the project progress.