Importance of Goal Setting and SMART Acronyms in Organizational Behavior

Organization
Behaviour

Table of Contents
Point 1: Description of S.M.A.R.T. acronym as used in goal setting theory...................................2
Point 2: Discussion on the application of S.M.A.R.T. acronyms in your own life experiences......3
Point 3: Discussion on the application of S.M.A.R.T. acronyms in your own career experiences. 4
Point 4: Recommendation to employees and organisation on the importance of goal setting........6
Summary..........................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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Point 1: Description of S.M.A.R.T. acronym as used in goal setting theory.
Goal setting theory of motivation simply means that inclusion of challenging and specific
goals with appropriate receiving of feedback. This is helpful in attaining better information on
the task that also contributes in making task better and relevant (Cherry, 2017). This theory was
developed by Edwin Locke in the year 1960. According to this author Goal setting is highly
important in making every task successful. At the initial time goals were formulated by
following 5 different principles. These principles are clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback
and Task complexity.
As per Edwin Locke, each and every principle has its own importance in creating effective
goal for particular task that also contributes in the organisational success. Also, it can be said that
all principle of theory is somewhat interconnect with the SMART criteria that is also supportive
in attainment of organisational success in feasible manner. SMART goals stands for Specific,
measurable, acceptable, realistic and time bound. Usage of SMART acronym used in goal setting
theory can be seen in the relation of each and every element. Each acronym of SMART
technique is described as below:
Specific: This simply states that goal should be specific and clear to the one who is
developing it as it does not create confusion for them in future.
Measurable: This acronym states that overall developed goal should be measurable so its
applicability can be checked in effective manner.
Achievable: Achievable acronym simply states that whether this goal is achievable or
not. This means that whether goal setter have suitable degree for that particular skill or not
(Locke and Latham, 2015).
Relevant: At this level, relevancy of goal is checked. According to this, goal setter is
required to develop relevant goal which does not relies upon any kind of fake promises.
Time-based: Every goal is required to have timely deadline which maintains focus of
desired person towards the same goal until it gets attained (Martin, 2015).
Here, it is seen that in first principle of goal setting theory that is clarity, M acronym
belonging to SMART criteria is used. Both of these states that whatever goal is developed by
company it should be measurable, clear and specific (Elsmore, 2017). It can be more specified
with the usage of numerical figures. Usage of acceptable (realistic) can be seen in the
commitment principle of goal theory. This simply states that it is essential for business managers
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