What is it, and why use it?
SMART Goals express intended improvement through Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound statements, with dated actual results.
It makes progress review more objective and prevents a general aspiration from being mistaken for an achieved outcome.
Explore the SMART Goals features and local-file workflowWhen to use it
Use it when a team needs an observable improvement goal, baseline, target and deadline.
When another tool fits better
Use a Project Charter when scope and sponsorship also need agreement. Use Action Plan to assign the tasks intended to reach a goal.
Before you start
- A baseline with a defined unit, source and period.
- A feasible target, deadline and accountable owner.
- An agreed definition of achievement and evidence needed to verify it.
Use fictional or approved non-sensitive information. Do not include patient details or proprietary records in practice worksheets.
Step-by-step in CI Tools
Add a goal and complete each SMART statement in the goal card.
Enter numeric baseline and target, units, owner, data source and reporting frequency. Choose the correct improvement direction.
Add dated actuals using the same definition and unit as the baseline.
Review numeric progress alongside the underlying observations. Verified achieved needs a qualifying actual and verification evidence.
Revise plans transparently if assumptions change; do not rewrite the baseline to make the result look better. Save the editable record.
Progress is not the same as verification
An actual can meet a target while remaining unverified. Keep the measurement definition consistent and attach the agreed evidence before marking achievement. A missed deadline or an unsupported baseline should stay visible in the review.
Completed worked examples
Demonstrations only: all organizations, observations, targets and results below are fictional. They are not clinical instructions or universal performance standards.
Healthcare operations — fictional
Referral rework goal
Starting information: A fictional service aims to reduce intake rework.
| Baseline / target | 30% → 15% or lower by 30 September |
|---|---|
| Actual | 18% on the latest comparable weekly review |
| Interpretation | 12 percentage points improved; the 15% target is not yet achieved |
What the result means: If progress is displayed against the required reduction, 12/15 = 80%. That is progress toward the goal, not an 80% rework rate.
General business — fictional
Order dispatch goal
Starting information: A fictional supplier improves on-time dispatch.
| Baseline / target | 80% → 95% by the end of the quarter |
|---|---|
| Actual / evidence | 96% for the agreed review period; source record checked |
| Status | Eligible for a reviewed achievement decision |
What the result means: Meeting one period’s target does not show the improvement will persist. Keep monitoring and record verification evidence.
Practise in a separate worksheet
Open the tool’s built-in synthetic sample as a new editable worksheet. It may differ from the worked demonstrations above. It never replaces an existing worksheet. Save any work you want to retain to your computer.
Open built-in practice worksheetYou’ll be asked to log in if needed. No worksheet is created just by reading this page.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Mixing percentage points and percent change: label the calculation.
- Marking a fully written goal as achieved: require a qualifying observed result.
- Changing units or the eligible population between baseline and actuals.
Interpret the result
Review the direction, units, dates and source before interpreting progress. A numeric progress indicator describes movement toward a target; it does not establish causality, statistical significance or sustained performance.
Record the assumptions and unanswered questions alongside the result. Use the relevant local review process before making operational decisions.
Credible further learning
These independent educational resources explain the methods. They do not endorse CI Tools Suite. Some external resources have their own access requirements.
- ASQ: Quality tools and templates (external resource)
- IHI: Quality Improvement Essentials Toolkit (external resource)
Resource links reviewed 29 October 2026. Our interface instructions and fictional examples are original CI Tools learning material.
Put the method into practice
Start a new worksheet, use the guide beside your work and keep an editable .citools copy on your computer.
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