In an economy plagued by budget cuts and stakeholders trying to do more with less, program owners can deliver more with powerful program objectives. Asking three simple questions helps develop program outcomes that link to the organization’s bottom line. First, “What will the performance improvement program accomplish for the organization?” Next, “What will the program accomplish for participants?” And finally, “How will the accomplishments be measured?”
Many workplace learning and performance professionals overlook the development of program objectives as a strategy to do more with limited resources. They also overlook how program objectives are central to the business alignment process. Benjamin Bloom (1956) and Robert Mager (1984; 1997) provided the learning community clear guidelines on how to develop objectives. Yet, even with their contribution, the construction of objectives is often one of the weakest areas of program development. This is unfortunate, as it is this phase of business alignment that can influence the greatest program success.