Goal hierarchies

Goals can be formulated on various levels of abstraction (cf. Beywl & Schepp-Winter, 1999):

• Policy goals are at the highest level of abstraction. They are not very concrete but remain constant over time and set the basic direction of the program or project.
• Mediator goals specify components of the policy goal and make it clear why the pursuit of certain activity goals is reasonable to achieve the policy goal.
• Functional goals make a direct contribution to the implementation of a mediator goal and an indirect contribution to the achievement of the policy goal. They serve as an orientation on a practical level and their formulation leaves little scope for variation by contrast to the higher-level classes of goals.

Especially in large-scale, complex projects, the broadly conceived, long-term policy goals should be clear. In order to implement them, these visions should be specified at the levels of mediator and functional goals.

Example

An example of a goal hierarchy can be found on the Goal Hierarchy -  Example page.

Please check whether …

• there is a a logical and comprehensible “chain” exists fromfrom functional goals to policy goals. It should be clear how a subordinated lower-level goal leads to a superordinated higher-level goal;
• some goals could be contradictory;
  
• the functional goals have been formulated as „smartly“ as possible. They should be specific, measurable, appropriate, realistic and timed. More information can be found on the S. M. A. R. T. objectives page.
  

Source and background information: In “Goal Identification and Clarification – a Guide” [in German; "Zielfindung und Zielklärung - ein Leitfaden" (Beywl & Schepp-Winter, 1999)] the design of goal hierarchies is described in detail (see Chapter 4: The Tertiary Goal System [in German; "Kapitel 4: Das dreigegliederte Zielsystem"]). http://www.univation.org/download/QS_21.pdf (815 kB; external)