Tailor your strategy to establish goals, objectives and outcomes and define measures, criteria for success and activities. Assessment plans should include the following elements: goals, objectives, outcomes, measurements, metrics, targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPI).
Goals
A goal is a desired result you envision and then plan and commit to achieve. Goal statements should align with the vision and mission of the unit. The statements should also guide the assessment plan and inform what data should be collected. Goals should be broad enough to encompass objectives and outcomes, yet specific enough to direct the unit’s efforts.
Objectives
An objective statement summarizes the intended outcome of a plan, describing the intended results of a unit’s processes, services, or activities. It communicates the direction of the unit’s work and aligns with its goals, following SMART guidelines (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-sensitive) and the unit’s overall mission.
Outcomes
An outcome is a statement of what the audience will be able to do, what they would have learned or what they would have experienced by the end of the activity or event. Administrative outcomes can focus on how a unit or service will impact a student in terms of knowledge, skills, attitude or values.
Measures
Measures are data collection methods used to assess outcomes and objectives, divided into direct and indirect categories. Direct measures capture actual performance and provide key insight into the experience or learning. Indirect measures capture the attitudes, perceptions or feelings about the experience or learning that is taking place.
Metrics/Criteria for Success and Targets
Metrics and critera for success are used interchangeably to define the acceptable performance measures used to track achievement. Metrics refer to the quantitative values to define the success levels. Criteria for success refers to the quantitative and qualitative values to define the success levels.
A target is the desired success level you aim to achieve, while metrics and criteria define the acceptable levels of success. For example, your criteria might be a 75% satisfaction rate, with a target of 90%, representing an aspirational goal.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI) are great resources to determine what to focus on and help define success levels. This type of performance measurement helps you understand how your organization, department or institution is performing and allows you to understand if you’re headed in the right direction with your strategy.