S.M.A.R.
T Objectives
What are S.M.A.R.T. Objectives?
S.M.A.R.T is both a mnemonic and acronym – it describes objectives that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Relevant, and Time- bound.
The words the letters spell out are also criteria for how goals or objectives should be stated or written to be
effective. “S.M.A.R.T. objectives” and “S.M.A.R.T goals” are often both used in business, education, and other
industries and in print.
Where do S.M.A.R.T. Objectives come from?
The first known use of the term “S.M.A.R.T objectives” is in the November 1981 issue of Management Review by
George T. Doran. S.M.A.R.T. criteria for how to formulate objectives is often associated with Peter Drucker and his
“management by objectives” concept. Since then they have been used in employee performance management
but also in education settings, businesses of all types, project management, and personal goal setting and
development.1,2
Where does SAFe use S.M.A.R.T. Objectives? Examples of S.M.A.R.T Objectives
• Team Objectives written for a Program Increment • Teams may also plan their Iteration Objectives with
◦ This can be seen in these Scaled Agile Framework S.M.A.R.T criteria during Iteration planning
Articles: PI Objectives, The Role of PI Objectives,
and Pre- and Post PI Planning
Examples of S.M.A.R.T Objectives
Personal Development: Run a 5k Team PI Objective: Customer Feedback Feature
S.M.A.R.T. Objective S.M.A.R.T. Objective
Practice running three times a week following a progressive training Design feature for customers to give feedback on content; deploy
app; be able to run a 5k distance, without stopping, in 4 months in limited release to most engaged segment on e-learning to collect
order to join 5k races/run groups data and small group feedback on their use and engagement.
S = distance, practice, end result S = Feature purpose, release for particular content and users
M = distance, practice frequency M = can measure release, customer engagement
A = can be accomplished in given time with personal commitment A = can be accomplished in PI/quarter, within team’s control
R = prepares individual to join desired activities R = Supports customer centricity
T = detailed time to achievement and milestones T = detailed time to achieve (one PI) and collect initial
data and feedback
1
“SMART Criteria,” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria
2
Doran, G. T. (1981). “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management’s goals and objectives”. Management Review. 70 (11): 35–36.
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