Objective setting | University of Strathclyde

As part of the Accountability & Development Review (ADR) process you will be asked to identify and agree performance objectives for the forthcoming review year.

All performance objectives should be aligned to the University’s vision and corporate objectives. In agreeing objectives for the forthcoming review year the Reviewee and Reviewer should consider how the role contributes to the Strategic Plan.

Some other general points to remember about setting objectives are:

They should be SMART i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound
Generally between 2 and 5 objectives should be agreed depending on the job role and the relative size of each objective
Objectives differ from the job description for the post as they are intended to identify key priorities of the coming review year rather than describing the broader responsibilities of the role over an extended time frame
Although objective setting as part of the ADR process is an individual level process it may be appropriate to set team objectives where there are shared responsibilities for example, in the case of particular projects or whether there is a large operational team performing the same type of role
Objective setting is related to performance; learning and development activities which may help to improve performance in the post and/or achieve objectives are included separately
In order to encourage internationalisation activity it is recommended that each member of staff in Grade 6 and above, regardless of staff category, includes one objective which has an internationalisation dimension where deemed appropriate to the role
Anyone with staff management responsibility should have at least one objective that relates to that aspect of their role
Detailed guidance on how to set objectives can be found in the Guidance on Setting Work Objectives and Associated Development Planning document.

Example objectives

Academic Professional Staff example objectives

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To be successful in obtaining x number of research grants/specific research grants by x date
To increase percentage of successful research funding applications by x per cent by x date
To generate research income to the value of approximately x over the coming year
To develop a new line of research or approach that will have a broad impact on relevant field of publication by x date
To increase the number of Research Excellence Framework (REF) qualifying publications in appropriate journals by x number by x date
To increase research income by x amount/percentage by x date

Teaching:

To lead/contribute to the development of a new module/teaching programme on … by x date
To critically review methods of teaching and learning in relation to teaching modules in x subject areas by x date
To develop a substantial revision to the course structure and content of an existing course by x date
To gain external funding, in the region of £x, for the development of new teaching and learning methods in x field by x date
To secure x number of research students in the coming year
To play the role of x to support the achievement of targets for student recruitment/retention
To improve individual performance and overall satisfaction in National Student Survey/Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey by x per cent by x date
To increase by x amount the number of incoming and outgoing exchange students by type of placement

To increase by x value KE/consultancy contracts/secure consultancy work with x company or y organisation in the coming year
To develop a new/enhance existing collaborative working arrangement with an external body in x subject area by x date.
To attract external funding for knowledge exchange activities such as Knowledge Transfer Partnership
To attract funding from industrial partners to co-fund research projects
To develop and/or deliver (or increase the level of) CPD provision with external organisations
To develop and/or deliver an executive education programme with external organisations
To commercialise an area of your research via patents or licensing
To form a spin-out company or grow the activities of an existing one
To engage with policy makers
To build strategic partnerships with large external organisations
To engage with the public and promote your (or others) research to external audiences
To increase the level of external partner engagement in shaping and delivering your teaching provision
To develop and promote evidence based case studies of the impact of your research on society and/or the economy
To promote knowledge exchange activities within your Department/Faculty/the University
To develop the knowledge exchange skills of colleagues and students within your Department/Faculty/the University

To take on the role of Course Director/Leader/Coordinator/equivalent by x date
To take on a senior Departmental/School management role by x date
To take on membership of a Faculty/University committee by x date
Obtain a role as an external examiner by x date

Professional Services Roles example objectives

Objectives relating to service provision within the department, to a particular project, to the provision of management information or to the accuracy and timeliness of work, for example:

To improve procedures for monitoring student attendance and for collecting student assignments in consultation with colleagues by x date
To write a paper for the Head of Department detailing the impact of new health and safety legislation relating to x area of activity by x date
To develop a policy in relation to a particular subject area and associated procedures for review by the Head of Department by x date
To review administrative procedures for conference attendance with relevant colleagues to ensure consistency of approach across the department by x date
Conduct a departmental wide training needs analysis and produce a departmental training plan for
Head of Department approval by x date
Reduce the down time of IT applications by x per cent by x date
Reduce planned maintenance costs by x per cent by x date
To review the department’s filing systems and make recommendations for improvement to the Head of Department by x date
To transfer the departmental strategy statement into a PowerPoint presentation by x date
To implement a new enquiry process in order to improve the service provided to potential applicants within the next x months
To co-ordinate x number of events by x date
To review the administrative process for x committee by x date to improve the experience for committee members and enhance the decision making process
To review the systems for financial monitoring and propose improvements to line manager/Head of Department by x date
To prepare a format for management information reports in relation to x to inform the decision-making of x by x date
To improve student support by acting as point of contact in relation to x issues, responding to queries within x timescale
To put in place new/enhanced marketing and communication mechanisms in relation to student recruitment activities for x (e.g. international students) by x date
Establishing/review web pages in relation to x and publish and promote these by x date
Ensure that administrative processes in relation to grant award x are adhered to and that regular audit reports are submitted within defined deadlines
Ensure that budget management procedures are followed by submitting quarterly reports to x

Objectives relating to safety or legal requirements or to the use of specialised equipment, for example:

To produce an up to date inventory of all laboratory equipment in the department by x date
To set up a rota to service the department’s machinery within the next x months
To increase the accuracy of instrumentation data by x per cent by x date
To rewrite the Health and Safety Policy document for the department within the next x months
To review the stock monitoring system and propose improvements to the Head of Department within the next x months
To produce written guidance on the use of a particular piece of equipment by x date
To produce recommendations for improving the service provision for academic staff/researchers in a particular specialism by x date
To develop and deliver training for other technical staff on x subject by x date
To review the demonstration techniques for students on x area of expertise by x date
To contribute to the department’s knowledge exchange activity by developing/delivering x service/facility/training and liaising with external contacts to attract business/establish customer needs
Supervise the practical projects of students in relation to x, ensuring that the students understand how to safely operate the necessary equipment and monitoring progress to support the students in completing the project to deadline
Risk assess activity x and implement any necessary process improvements by x date
Establish a production technique in relation to x activity by x date

Objectives relating to maintenance of safety or hygiene standards or service delivery, for example:

To improve customer satisfaction ratings regarding response times from x per cent to x per cent by x date
To reduce the incidence of customer complaints by x per cent by the end of the year
To increase the number of points of view feedback cards filled out by customers by x number over the course of the year
To reduce food and packaging wastage by x per cent over the course of the year
To increase recycling by x per cent over the course of the year
To ensure all stock and food items are displayed attractively and service times are met
To ensure mail is delivered to departments by x time each day
To ensure that all student enquiries are dealt with within x days
To reduce the number of reportable health and safety incidents by x per cent by the end of the year
To ensure that x area is cleaned by x time each day
To lock up x buildings by x time each day
To ensure that x number of orders are delivered as per customer requests
To review the stock monitoring procedures and suggest improvements by x date
To ensure incident reports are submitted by x time after the event
To provide on the job training to a specific person by x date

Human ResourcesObjective setting

Example objectives

Academic Professional Staff example objectives

Professional Services Roles example objectives

Our faculties & departments

Our faculties & departments

Engineering

Humanities & Social Sciences

Science

Strathclyde Business School

Example objectives

Academic Professional Staff example objectives

Research

Teaching

Knowledge Exchange (KE)

Citizenship

Professional Services Roles example objectives

Administrative & Professional Services Roles

Technical roles

Operational roles

Our faculties & departments

Our faculties & departments

Engineering

Humanities & Social Sciences

Science

Strathclyde Business School