Strategizing Emergency Management Programs - Principles of Emergency Management - page 82

BusinessDictionary.com: “... a goal is an observable and measurable end result
having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed
timeframe.”*
As can be seen, a “goal” is considered an end result of some sort of effort or action,
and typically is completed within a particular timeframe. Goals that are contained
in the Emergency Management program strategy should include both short-term
and long-term goals. The strategy is a living document, and the goals will drive the
future of the Emergency Management agency.
As an Emergency Manager and their planning team begin constructing the
goals for the strategy, there are some things to consider in order to ensure that the
goal is written effectively. One of the best tools in developing goals and initiatives
is to use the SMART acronym.
S peciic—A specific goal is much easier to understand than a general or a
vague goal. To set a specific goal, it is important to include answers to as
many of the following questions as possible:
− Who is to achieve this goal (can be individuals or a team)?
− What needs to be accomplished?
− Where is this goal to be reached or accomplished?
− Why does this goal need to be accomplished?
− Which way is the goal to be attained, taking into account legal and other
requirements?
− When should the goal be completed by (this is also covered under the “T”
part of the SMART acronym)?
M easurable—Establish milestones for accomplishing the goal. Determine
how the goal can be measured quantitatively so that successful completion
can be measured.
A ttainable—he planning team has to agree that the goal is attainable.
Sometimes it is a good exercise to “reverse engineer,” or start with the result
and work backward to examine what personnel, funding, and other resources
will be needed to attain your goal.
R ealistic—Be realistic. Just as with being “attainable,” a “realistic” goal is
also critical (although many may see how these go hand in hand). A goal
that is too lofty or that is not realistic or attainable is not worth developing.
Unmet goals can lead to lower morale and unclear direction.
T Timely—Time constraints or definitions are probably some of the most diffi-
cult attributes of a goal to establish. Emergency Management professionals are
often inundated with projects that are influenced by entities external to their
departments (i.e., grant deadlines, plan reviews, budgets). However, when
* “goal.” BusinessDictionary.com. 2010. Web Finance Inc. http://www.businessdictionary.com/
definition/goal.html. Accessed 6 January 2010.