--- title: "Project, characteristics and SMART goal setting" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:project-explain-goal-setting-smart" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/project-explain-goal-setting-smart site: BCT Engineering --- # Project, characteristics and SMART goal setting Project Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction of Project and Project Management - Asked in: 2065 Shrawan (old course), 8 marks - Video: [SMART Goals (Explained) - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-Bound](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj7Kw3fDNaw) — Helpful Professor Explains! - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/project-explain-goal-setting-smart - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-1 ## Question Explain project and the characteristics of a project. Explain goal setting (SMART). ## Short answer A project is a temporary endeavor with definite start/end, creating a unique product within constraints. Characteristics: specific objective, definite life, uniqueness, progressive elaboration, temporary team, limited resources, uncertainty, interdependent tasks, stakeholders, multidisciplinary. Goal setting uses SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound. E.g., 'Construct 12 km, 5.5 m wide black-topped road from X to Y in 24 months at ≤NRs 40 crore.' ## Answer #### Project A **project** is a temporary endeavour, with a definite start and end, undertaken by a team to create a unique product, service or result within limited time, cost and quality constraints. Examples: building the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track, a 100 MW hydropower plant, a bridge, or developing a hospital information system. #### Characteristics of a project | Characteristic | Meaning | Example | |---|---|---| | Specific objective | Defined purpose and deliverable | Complete a 40 m span bridge | | Definite life span | Fixed start and end date | Start Shrawan 2080, finish Asar 2082 | | Unique / non-routine | Not a repetitive task; each project differs in site, design, conditions | Two dams are never identical | | Progressive elaboration | Details are developed step by step as information increases | Concept, feasibility, detailed design, drawings | | Temporary team | Team formed for the project and dispersed at the end | Engineers, contractors, consultants | | Limited resources | Fixed budget, manpower, equipment, time | Budget of NRs 50 crore | | Uncertainty and risk | Future events cannot be fully predicted | Landslide, price rise, delay in land acquisition | | Interdependent tasks | Activities depend on each other | Foundation before columns | | Customer / stakeholders | Client, funder, users, public | Department of Roads, donor, villagers | | Multi-disciplinary and cross-functional | Different specialists work together | Civil, electrical, environment, finance | #### Goal setting (SMART) Goals and objectives are set by understanding the need or problem, consulting the stakeholders, and stating the end result in clear, measurable terms. The usual sequence is: 1. Identify the need or problem and the stakeholders. 2. State the broad goal (the long-term purpose). 3. Break the goal into specific objectives (short-term, measurable results). 4. Test each objective against the SMART criteria. 5. Get approval from the client and revise if resources or constraints do not match. #### SMART criteria | Letter | Criterion | Meaning | |---|---|---| | S | Specific | Clear and unambiguous; says what, where and for whom | | M | Measurable | Quantity, quality or cost can be checked | | A | Achievable | Possible with available resources and technology | | R | Realistic / Relevant | Matches the need and the organisation's capacity | | T | Time-bound | Has a deadline or time frame | #### Example Poor objective: "Improve the road to the village." SMART objective: "Construct a 12 km, 5.5 m wide black-topped road from X to Y, within 24 months, at a cost not exceeding NRs 40 crore, meeting Department of Roads standards." - Specific: 12 km black-topped road from X to Y. - Measurable: length, width, cost and standard are given. - Achievable: the equipment, contractor and budget are available. - Realistic: the village needs year-round access. - Time-bound: 24 months. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which statement best defines a project? A. A temporary endeavour with a definite start and end, undertaken by a team to create a unique product, service or result B. A continuing operation that produces the same output every day under standard procedures C. Any activity carried out by a permanent department with no time limit D. A routine task repeated by the same staff to maintain existing output Answer: A. A project is temporary, has a definite start and end, and creates something unique within time, cost and quality limits. (Key point: Definition of a project) 2. Why is a project called unique or non-routine? A. Because it always uses new money and never uses old equipment B. Because only one engineer works on it C. Because it has no deadline D. Each project differs in site, design and conditions, so it is not a repeated daily operation Answer: D. Even similar works, like two dams, differ in site and conditions, so a fresh plan is needed each time. (Key point: Unique, non-routine) 3. Which is the correct order for setting project goals? A. State SMART objectives first, then identify the need, then the broad goal B. Identify need and stakeholders, state broad goal, break into objectives, test against SMART, get client approval C. Get client approval first, then identify the need, then set objectives D. Break into objectives, identify stakeholders, then state the broad goal without any testing Answer: B. The need and stakeholders come first; the broad goal is broken into objectives, tested with SMART and approved by the client. (Key point: Goal setting sequence) 4. What do the letters in SMART stand for in goal setting? A. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, Time-bound B. Simple, Monitored, Approved, Reported, Tested C. Specific, Managed, Allocated, Reviewed, Timed D. Strategic, Measured, Authorised, Required, Tracked Answer: A. SMART objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic/relevant and time-bound. (Key point: SMART letters) ## Related in Project Engineering - [Project goal setting and criteria (SMART)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Agoal-setting-criteria) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 5× - [Goal vs objective; goal setting criteria](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Agoal-objective-difference-criteria) — Project Engineering, chapter 1 - [Life cycle phases and goal setting example](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Alife-cycle-phase-goal-example) — Project Engineering, chapter 1 - [Project family tree and goal criteria](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-family-tree-goal-criteria) — Project Engineering, chapter 1 - [Goal versus objective of a project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Agoal-vs-objective-example) — Project Engineering, chapter 1