| SETTING
OBJECTIVES |
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INTRODUCTION |
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4.1 |
If an intervention seems worthwhile, then the objectives of the
proposed new policy, programme or project need to be stated clearly.
This allows the identification of the full range of alternative
options which government may adopt.
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OBJECTIVES,
OUTCOMES, OUTPUTS, AND TARGETS
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4.2 |
Objectives
should be stated so that it is clear what proposals are intended
to achieve. Objectives may be expressed in general terms so that
the range of options to meet them can be considered. The objectives
of individual proposals should be consistent with statements of
government policy, departmental or agency objectives, departmental
Public Service Agreements (PSAs), and wider macro-economic objectives.
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4.3 |
There
is usually a hierarchy of outcomes, outputs, and targets that should
be clearly set out in an appraisal. Outcomes
are the eventual benefits to society that proposals are intended
to achieve. Often, objectives will be expressed in terms of the
outcomes that are desired. But outcomes sometimes cannot be directly
measured, in which case it will often be appropriate to specify
outputs, as intermediate steps along the way. Outputs
are the results of activities that can be clearly stated or measured
and which relate in some way to the outcomes desired.
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4.4 |
Targets
can be used to help progress in terms of producing outputs, delivering
outcomes, and meeting objectives. Targets should be SMART;
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Specific, |
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Measurable, |
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Achievable, |
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Relevant,
and, |
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Time-bound. |
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BOX
5: SETTING OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS
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The
following questions may help to set suitable objectives
and targets:
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What
are we trying to achieve? What are our objectives?
What would constitute a successful outcome or set
of outcomes? |
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Have
similar objectives been set in other contexts that
could be adapted? |
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Are
our objectives consistent with strategic aims and
objectives as set out, for example, in the department’s
Public Service Agreements (PSA’s)? |
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Are
our objectives defined to reflect outcomes (e.g.,
improved health, crime reduction or enhanced sustainable
economic growth,) rather than the outputs (e.g. operations,
prosecutions or job placements), which will be the
focus of particular projects? |
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How
might our objectives and outcomes be measured? |
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Are
our objectives defined in such a way that progress
toward meeting them can be monitored? |
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What
factors are critical to success? |
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What
SMART targets can we then set? What targets do we
need to meet? |
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BOX
6: EXAMPLES OF OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES
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Policy
area |
Outputs |
Outcomes |
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Job
search / Job matching |
Number
of job seekers assisted. |
Value
of extra output, or improvement in efficiency of job search |
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Development
of skills |
Number
of training places and / or numbers completing training |
Value
of extra human capital, and / or earnings capacity |
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Social
outputs: Schools; Health centres |
Exam
results (schools), People treated (health centres). |
Improvements
in human capital (schools); Measures of health gain (health
centres). |
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Environmental
improvement |
Hectares
of derelict land freed of pollution. |
Improvement
to the productivity of the land. |
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BOX 7: EXAMPLE ‘EXPANDING VOCATIONAL TRAINING’
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OVERALL
POLICY OBJECTIVE |
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‘To
address the major skills deficiency in the UK
by increasing training to be reflected in the numbers of people
holding vocational qualifications’. |
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See
Box 4 for the rationale for government intervention.
Examples
of outcomes, outputs and targets: |
| Outcomes |
Outputs |
Targets |
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| A
socially optimal level of training |
Human
capital as a share of GDP |
The
number of training places that will be provided by a certain
date |
| Higher
productivity for both trainees and co-workers |
Proportion
of workforce with vocational training |
Reduction
in the percentage drop-out rate by a certain date |
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