SMARTkriteerien

SMARTkriteerien, commonly referred to in English as SMART criteria, is a framework for setting clear and actionable objectives. It promotes goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, enabling precise planning, monitoring, and evaluation. The concept emerged in management literature in the early 1980s and is often credited to George T. Doran, who described a SMART framework in 1981 as a way to write effective goals.

Variations exist: different authors substitute terms such as Attainable for Achievable, Realistic for Relevant, and Time-bound for Time-constrained. Some extend the acronym with extra letters, as in SMARTER or SMART-PLUS, to emphasize evaluation, experimentation, or re-evaluation.

Use and applications: SMART criteria are widely used in business planning, project management, performance appraisal, education, and personal development. A SMART objective is specific about what will be achieved, includes measurable indicators, sets an attainable target given resources, aligns with broader aims, and states a deadline. Example: 'Increase customer retention by 10% within the next six months by implementing a quarterly feedback program and follow-up outreach.'

Criticisms and limitations: while popular, SMART can encourage a narrow focus on easily measurable outcomes and may tempt organizations to prioritize quick wins over long-term strategy. It may also fail to capture ethical, quality, or systemic considerations. Proponents respond by adapting the criteria to context or adopting variants such as SMARTER to incorporate evaluation and learning cycles.

In many non-English contexts the term SMARTkriteerien is used to denote this framework, reflecting its international adoption.