aimsWhat

AimsWhat is a term used in information design and collaborative writing to describe a concise, explicit pairing of the intended goals (aims) with the specific request or task (what) at the core of a communication. The concept emphasizes distinguishing what outcomes are sought from what is being asked of the reader or team, with the aim of reducing ambiguity and guiding both formulation and evaluation of statements.

Etymology: The term is a portmanteau of "aims" and "what," reflecting its dual focus. It emerged in online writing and collaboration communities in the early 2020s and has since been discussed in pedagogy and project-planning contexts.

Definition and structure: An aimsWhat statement typically includes a clear articulation of aims, a precise description of the task or question (the "what"), and, optionally, scope, context, and success criteria. The format is intended to enable quick assessment of relevance and feasibility.

Applications: In education, aimsWhat helps students frame assignments by separating goals from tasks. In research and design, it guides the development of briefs, discussion prompts, and user interviews. In project management, it supports concise scope statements and requirement specifications.

Limitations: Critics note that aimsWhat may be redundant when aims are already stated elsewhere and that rigid adherence can inhibit flexible interpretation.

Example: A task described in aimsWhat might read, "Aims: provide a concise overview of X; What: write a 250-word neutral summary; Scope: exclude references; Context: for a general audience." This clarifies objectives and delivers a measurable task.

See also: goal setting, framing, task analysis.