There are many ways to create goals statements. What I find most useful is QQTR.
A goal is a what by when.
The What
- Quality – how good does it need to be?
- Quantity – how much is required?
By when
- Time Frame – when is it expected to be complete?
- Resources – what is available, how do I access resources, how do I secure more if necessary?
QQTR Example(S)
- Chain of retail stores. We were looking to grow capacity & open new stores. This is only one piece of the total operational plan.
| Task to be completed | Increase capacity of retail stores by decreasing over time or increasing monthly sales. |
| Quality | Direct labor costs will be less than 10.5% of monthly sales |
| Quantity | Direct labor in all 12 stores |
| Time Frame | Before June 1, 2015 |
| Resources | We will use a control spreadsheet with weekly schedule data supplied by individual store managers |
- Manufacturing plant example.
| Task to be completed | Decrease changeover time of machine XC192 |
| Quality | Maintaining current level of defects to plant standards |
| Quantity | Decrease changeover of machine XC192 from 3 hours to 1.5 hours |
| Time Frame | By October 1, 2016 |
| Resources | We will use internal engineering and SME, and train the machine operators. Measurement based on changeover logs and observational audits by quality engineers. |
- One of my goals for Create-Learning
| Task to be completed | Keep Create-Learning blog up to date & useful as an education + marketing tool |
| Quality | Blog posts should offer helpful tips, combine evidence-based management theory with a practical tool, be something I am proud to share. |
| Quantity | 2 to 5 |
| Time Frame | Per Week |
| Resources | Books, peers, clients, workshop materials. |