A target is the specific value a metric needs to reach for performance against it to be judged successful - a sales figure, a quality percentage, a completion date. It gives a KPI or key result the concrete number it is measured against.
What it means
A target only means something in relation to a baseline - improving from a low starting point to a modest target can still represent real progress, which is why targets are usually set with reference to where the metric started.
Where it fits in
Every KPI, key result and SMART goal ultimately resolves to a target the metric is measured against, making it one of the most foundational building blocks the rest of performance management is built on.
Key rules
- The specific value a metric must reach to count as success.
- Meaningful only in relation to a baseline starting point.
- The concrete figure underlying KPIs, key results and SMART goals.
- A particularly ambitious target is described as a stretch goal.
