Writing SMART objectives for natural resource and environmental management
March 5, 2024
- In natural resource and environmental management, well-written objectives are critical for effective decision-making and the achievement of desired outcomes. This article aims to improve practitioners' ability to identify and write SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives for natural resource and environmental management.
- We differentiate between research and management objectives, define each SMART criterion, and introduce a template to help write management objectives. We demonstrate the use of the SMART management objectives template with a hypothetical example and two recent applications.
- The template simplifies the process of writing SMART management objectives. It is applicable to popular management frameworks like management by objectives and structured decision making.
- The implementation of SMART criteria and the provided template can lead to better outcomes in natural resource and environmental management, benefiting current and future generations.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Title | Writing SMART objectives for natural resource and environmental management |
| DOI | 10.1002/2688-8319.12313 |
| Authors | Caleb A. Aldridge, Michael E. Colvin |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Ecological Solutions and Evidence |
| Index ID | 70252520 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Columbia Environmental Research Center |