Job Objectives

Purpose

To learn and practise the skill of writing objectives. Objectives are a common management tool in today's business world.
To establish a method of communication between the student and the industrial supervisor to ensure that both agree on what each others' expectations are for the work placement period.

Some objectives will come directly from the requirements that the supervisor has regarding the work to be performed by the student (ie, in order to carry out the activity an objective will need to be achieved).

Some objectives may reflect the student's desire to learn a specific skill or carry out a specific activity as part of their job (ie, the student may ask the supervisor if they can become involved in, and so learn about, something related to the job and in which the student has an interest).

Characteristics of Objectives

Objectives must be clear and convey the same message to both the writer and the reader. There are three essential characteristics:

End Result: An observable, physical action. For example:
- Complete a task
- Learn to use a computer application
- Write a report
Conditions: All objectives must have a time condition.
- “... by when will this be done?”
Another condition might be:
- “... will the student do the activity unaided or with the assistance of others?”
Measurement: How will success or failure be measured? This must be clearly stated so that all parties know the standard by which the work will be judged. For example:
- “... if the design is adopted for production”
- “... if the modification solves the problem”
- “... if the work meets specific internal quality standards”
- “... how many times must the activity be done to demonstrate competence?”

Typical Format

By (condition - due date), I will be able to (observable action). This objective will be complete if (condition), (measurement).

Example: By 30 March I will be able to operate the work scheduling computer system to the extent that I can enter new jobs and provide weekly schedule reports to maintenance staff. This objective will be complete if I can, unaided, operate the system for more than one week without error.

Preparation and Timing

Students are required to prepare at least five Job Objectives during the course of the Work Placement, using the standard form. A copy of the Job Objectives form is included in this guide. All should be done by the student with the assistance of the industiral supervisor. Students should prepare a draft objective for discussion with the supervisor and follow this by writing the final objective.

The first objective should be prepared by about the end of the third week and others can be added at any time. As new challenges or opportunities arise, new objectives can be written. Not all activities need to be reflected in Job Objectives, but it is expected that most significant activities encountered will be covered.

Students should keep the original sheet and provide a copy for their supervisor. As each objective is achieved, the original should be signed and dated by the supervisor. The original Job Objectives sheet, signed and dated, must be included in the Work Placement Report.

Where the employer has standard procedures regarding documentation of the scope of allocated tasks in an organisation standard format (eg Project Scope Statements etc) that fulfils the intent of the Job Objectives then it is preferable that the organisation standard be used. Where this is the case the organisation standard document should be included in the Work Placement Report.