Part 1
Goal setting is the foundation for successful project design and evaluation. Clear, well-defined goals provide a roadmap for the project team and interested and affected parties (IAPs). Project goals must adhere to the classic SMART criteria for goal setting:
- Specific goals prevent ambiguity, focusing on actionable and clearly defined outcomes.
- Measurable goals provide benchmarks to assess progress and promote accountability.
- Achievable goals ensure that objectives are realistic, taking into account available resources and constraints.
- Relevant goals prioritize actions that contribute meaningfully to overarching objectives.
- Time-Bound goals clarify deadlines and encourage timely completion.
In this discussion, you will brainstorm some goals of your proposed project to address an environmental issue with your instructor and classmates. As your plan develops, one of these goals may emerge as the main project goal, while the others will serve supporting roles. It is hoped that this discussion will help you to refine these elements of your project plan in preparation for the submission of the week 2 course project assignment.
- Identify and describe 3-5 goals for your proposed project to address your chosen environmental issue.
- For each goal apply the SMART criteria to ensure the applicability of your goal to your proposed project. Explain how your goals achieve or fall short of each of the SMART criteria for goal setting.
Part 2
For this assignment, you will submit a document detailing possible goals of your project as well as key indicators and means of verification.
Overview:
This assignment aims to enhance your ability to establish effective project indicators and means of verification supporting project goals through a critical analysis of case studies. From the annotated bibliography you compiled in week 1, select information from the 3 case studies that you chose to inform the development of robust project indicators and means of verification for your course project.
This assignment will help you connect your project planning to previous work in the field. By learning from the outcomes of past projects, you can plan more effectively for future efforts. You will gain insight into the methods used, the indicators (metrics) measured, how those metrics were measured, and the technologies employed, allowing you to build on existing knowledge and improve your project design.
To carry out your project, you must identify a minimum of 6 indicators (metrics) and means of verification that align with your project goals. Indicators are specific, measurable criteria used to assess whether project objectives have been achieved. They help quantify and track progress at different levels of the Project LogFrame (outputs, outcomes, and activities).
- Indicators (metrics) are quantitative/qualitative data that help researchers and policymakers understand and evaluate the impact of experimental interventions. They are used to measure and monitor a specific milestone or outcome. For example, they can measure changes in carbon dioxide levels, increases in biodiversity, improved profits, community health, etc.
- Means of verification refer to the sources and techniques used to collect data for measuring these indicators. They outline where and how information will be gathered and the technology required to confirm that the indicators have been met.
Resource Guidance for Week 2 Course Project Assignment
Identify Relevant Databases: Search academic databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, or PubMed for peer-reviewed articles, reports, and case studies related to environmental projects.
Review Case Studies & Best Practices: Look for case studies from environmental projects in similar fields (e.g., conservation, waste management) to see which metrics were used to measure outcomes, outputs, and activities.
Check Industry Guidelines & Reports: Consult guidelines from recognized organizations (e.g., UNEP, World Bank, EPA) or sustainability standards (e.g., ISO, GRI) for recommended metrics.
Use Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses: Find literature reviews or meta-analyses that summarize and compare different metrics across various projects, providing insights into common or effective metrics.
Analyze Key Terms & Frameworks: Search for terms like “environmental performance indicators,” “sustainability metrics,” or “impact assessment” in the literature to identify established frameworks that list recommended metrics.
Instructions:
- Case Studies – Select at least 3 case studies from your literature review for in-depth analysis. For each case study, address the following:
- Goal – What was the project goal? Describe the overall purpose or objective of the project as outlined by the authors.
- Indicators – What indicators were measured, and why were these specific metrics selected? Discuss the importance of these indicators in achieving the project goals.
- Means of Verification – How were the indicators measured? What methods were used? Describe the technologies employed to collect, analyze, and synthesize the data.
- IAPs – Identify all interested and affected parties that were involved in this case study.
- Results – Summarize the key outcomes and data collected through the measured indicators. How did the results reflect the project’s overall effectiveness or achievement of its goals?
- Project Goals, Indicators, and Means of Verification – Based on the analysis of your case studies, establish a set of project indicators for your course project by identifying the following:
- Project Goals: Based on your review of the literature and case studies, name 3 broad goals your project could pursue. You will refine these goals next week, but you can consider them overarching changes you would like to see as a result of the project you are developing.
- Indicators: For each goal, identify and describe a minimum of 2 indicators that can be measured to assess project progress or impact
- Means of Verification: Explain how you will collect, analyze, and interpret data for the selected project indicators. Next, identify and describe specific technology, tools, or software required for measuring and verifying your project indicators (e.g., data analysis software, environmental sensors, mobile applications).
- Submission
- Submit your assignment using the following template Download template.
- APA format, including in-text citations and a list of references.
- Submit your assignment as a Word or PDF document.