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Information Designer's Toolkit
How to Write Objectives

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About Objectives

Objectives state the main points of a technical communication product in terms of tasks that users can perform, and that others can observe and measure. (In this class, the product is the materials for a training presentation. Writing objectives is an important part of preparing training materials; research by Lakewood Research indicates that nearly all trainers write objectives before starting work on a training course. But you should also write objectives for all technical communication, such as manuals, web pages, help, reports, and proposals.)

Observable means that someone can visibly see evidence that a user or the business achieved this goal. Measurable means that someone can assess the extent to which users and businesses achieve the objectives.

Consider this example:

ý Know the procedures for installing WordPlus.It is not observable because you cannot see whether or not someone "knows" something.

Avoid abstract verbs like know, understand, appreciate, and feel. As you cannot observe this objective, you cannot measure it either. How do you measure "knowing?" Would knowing how to insert the diskette for WordPlus into the diskette drive and type a:>setup be sufficient, or does the user need to know how to decipher the code in the routine in the program named setup?

Consider this second example:

þ Install WordPlus in 5 minutes with the use of instructions and without any errors. This is an example of an objective.

It is observable because you can see whether someone could install WordPlus in 5 minutes or less. It is measurable because you can measure the time needed to install the product and the number of errors that occurred during installation.

Writing Objectives

You begin writing objectives after you write the purpose statement for your communication product. The purpose statement follows the form:

After hearing this presentation, who should be able to do what.

Notice that the purpose statement helps you focus your efforts towards a single purpose, and also helps you state that purpose in clear, concrete terms. The objectives serve a similar purpose, helping you to focus your main points and state them in similarly concrete terms.

You write objectives in an observable, measurable way. Information designers use a three-part format for writing observable, measurable objectives:

Install WordPlus in 5 minutes with the use of instructions and without any errors.

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An observable, measurable goal. State this goal as an action verb, such as install, type, describe, and state. Words like "know," "understand," "appreciate," and "inform" are not appropriate terms for tasks because they cannot be measured. Conditions under which the task should be performed. This describes any situations that should be considered when measuring the goal, such as the availability of information when users perform a task. Level of acceptable performance. This describes the extent to which the objective must be achieved to be considered complete, such as without errors.

 

Correct and Incorrect Examples of Objectives

ý Be informed about the benefits of WordPlus.

This is not an objective because it does not include an observable, measurable task.

ý Use the Account Inquiry menu.

This is not an objective because using it does not state conditions of performance. Also note that "using a menu" is not a task, it is an example of a function. Users perform tasks with systems--they do not merely use functions. Learn more about differentiating between functions and tasks in the unit about technical marketing presentations.

þ Name the six key elements of a telecommunications system within 30 seconds and without the assistance of a manual.

This is an example of an objective because the task is name the six key elements. The conditions are within 30 seconds and without the assistance of a manual. Because the level of performance is not stated, we assume it is 100 percent.The following is an exampleof an objective: name the six features of WordPlus that distinguish it from other word processors within 1 minute and without any errors. This is an example of an objective because the main task can be measured. Within 1 minute is an example of a condition and without any errors indicates the desired level of performance.

þ Change the font of a paragraph from roman to bold in 30 seconds.

This is an example of an objective because the main task can be measured. The conditions are "using the manual" and within 30 seconds. Because no level of performance is indicated, 100 percent accuracy is assumed.

þ Reduce the number of technical support staff members required to support WordPlus by 10 percent within 6 months.

This is an example of an objective because it states the business goal in observable and measurable terms. The condition is "within 6 months." The level of performance is 10 percent.

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(c) Copyright. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. Saul Carliner. All rights reserved.