Chapter 4: Defining scope, quality and activity sequence

Establishing a project objective

The planning process is based on the project objective, which establishes what is to be accomplished. Many times the project objective is stated in the project charter or request for proposal (RFP). The objective is the tangible end product that the project team or contractor must produce and deliver in order for the sponsor or customer to achieve the expected benefits from implementing the project.

The project objective is usually defined in terms of the end project or deliverable, schedule and budget. It requires completing the project work scope and producing all deliverables by a certain time and within budget. It should also include the expected benefits that will result from implementing the project ad define the success of the project. The project objective must be clearly defined and agreed upon by the sponsor or customer and the project team or contractor that will perform the project. The project objective must be clear, attainable, specific and measurable. The project objective should include the following:

Expected benefits that will result from implementation of the project and define success. This element establishes why the project is being done. It may include verbs such as to increase, to expand, to reduce, to save, to establish and so on. This element should also include a quantified measure if appropriate, such as a percent, dollar amount, or absolute number. Examples include: to increase sales volume by 5,000 units annually, to expand customer base in European markets by 60 percent, to reduce the number of patients that contract post surgical infections by 50 percent, to double the number of donors, or to reduce annual overhead cost by $150,000.

1.  Primary project end project or deliverable, such as a mobile app shopping capability, a nationwide marketing campaign, dormitory complex, or a noninvasive medical monitoring device.

2.      Date by which the project is required to be completed, such as by June 30, 2015, or in 18 months.

Some examples of project objectives are:

1.      To increase emergency room capacity by 20 percent and reduce average patient waiting time by 50 percent through a reconfiguration, and process improvement project to be completed in 12 months and within a budget of $400,000.  

2.      To meet new environmental regulatory requirements by installing a new filtration system within 15 month and with a budget of $3.2million.

3.      To obtain information about consumer preferences by conducting a consumer market study to be completed in 26 weeks with a budget of $40,000.