doelwaardige

Doelwaardige is a Dutch adjective used to describe something that is worthy of the intended goal or fit for the purpose it is meant to serve. In practice, it is applied to information, data, plans, processes, and actions that effectively support achieving a stated objective rather than merely existing or looking good.

Origin and form: The compound derives from doel (goal, aim) and waard (worthy). The form doelwaardige is the attributive inflected form used before a noun (for example, doelwaardige data) to express suitability for the objective.

Common contexts: In governance, business, and research, doelwaardig is used in performance reviews, audits, project documentation, and data management to indicate usefulness and adequacy for purpose. The concept is often discussed in terms of user needs, policy goals, and measurable outcomes.

Criteria: Judgments of doelwaardige data or information typically involve relevance to the objective, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, consistency, accessibility, and traceability. Stakeholders’ perspectives matter, so what is doelwaardig for one objective or group may differ for another.

Relation and translation: Doelwaardig is related to but distinct from terms such as doelgericht (goal-directed), bruikbaar (usable), or doelmatig (efficient). In English, it is commonly translated as “fit for purpose” or “purposeful.” The term underscores functional quality rather than aesthetics and is often used to assess whether a resource truly serves its intended aim.