ACCA Applied Knowledge · Business and Technology · Personal effectiveness
Which of the following objectives for a payroll clerk best satisfies the 'measurable' element of SMART?
Reducing payroll errors to fewer than 5 per month is measurable because it sets a numerical target that can be checked objectively. The other statements use vague language like more careful or try, so progress could not be assessed against any clear standard.
- AProcess payroll more efficiently in future
- BReduce payroll errors to fewer than 5 per monthCorrect
- CTry to make fewer payroll mistakes
- DBe more careful when checking payslips
Explanation
Only the second option gives a quantified target, fewer than 5 errors per month, against which performance can be assessed. The others use vague words such as more efficiently, try and more careful, which cannot be objectively verified.
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