Work objectives
Work or operational objectives refer to the results to be achieved
or the contribution to be made to the accomplishment of team,
departmental and corporate objectives. At corporate levelthey are
related to the organization’s mission, core values and strategic
plans.
At departmental or functional levelthey are related to corporate
objectives, spelling out the specific mission, targets and purposes
to be achieved by a function or department.
At team levelthey will again be related specifically to the
purpose of the team and the contribution it is expected to make
to achieving departmental and corporate goals.
Atindividual level they are job-related, referring to the principal
accountabilities, main activity areas or key tasks which consti-
tute the individual’s job. They focus on the results individuals
are expected to achieve and how they contribute to the attain-
ment of team, departmental and corporate goals and to
upholding the organization’s core values.
Personal objectives
Personal or learning objectives are concerned with what individ-
uals should do and learn to improve their performance (perfor-
mance improvement plans) and/or their knowledge, skills and
overall level of competency (training and personal development
plans).
HOW ARE INDIVIDUAL WORK OBJECTIVES
EXPRESSED?Individual objectives define the results to be achieved and the
basis upon which performance in attaining these results can be
measured. They can take the form of target- or project-related
objectives or standing objectives.
Target- or project-related objectives
Individual objectives can be expressed as quantified output or
improvement targets (open 24 new accounts by 31 December,
How to Set Objectives 247