(385e) The Importance of Excellent Definition of Project Objectives

Effective project objectives are vital for successful project management. They tell us what we want the end service, result, or product of a project to be. Surprisingly, most project management texts go little beyond acknowledging the importance of good objectives. The “How to” is either missing or given only very brief discussion. This presentation discusses some basic principles and tools helpful in setting effective objectives. The tools help address questions around project scope, decision-making trade-offs, and tolerance between what is ideal and what is failure. These same tools aid in communication between the project team and other key players so that they all understand the intended project outcome.