Writing Performance Objectives

TeamOJT Tip of the Month for December, 2003

A performance objective is an observable and measurable statement of what the trainee must do to perform a task successfully. Being observable means that you can see whether the trainee can do the task. Being measurable means that you can determine through some means of assessment if the performance is right or wrong, acceptable or unacceptable. A properly written performance objective will provide you with a standard of measure, usually in terms of degree of accuracy, speed, or quality. Performance objectives must describe three things:

What the trainee must be able to do at the end of training--the performance statement
Under what circumstances the trainee must do it--the condition
How well the trainee has to accomplish the task--the standard (or criteria)

Let's examine these three facets of performance objectives one at a time.

The performance statement for training modules usually is taken from the module title. For example, if the title is, "How to Change a Flat Automobile Tire," the performance statement would be "change a flat automobile tire."

The condition defines the circumstances under which the trainee is expected to perform the task--perhaps using specific equipment or with access to particular resources. Conditions often start with the words "given" or "without," and are followed by the information, materials, or other "conditions" that will or will not be available to the trainee when performing the task. For our tire-changing example, the condition might be "given the appropriate tools."

The standard defines how well the trainee is expected to do the task at the end of training, as measured by at least one of the following:

degree of accuracy--number of errors, percent accuracy
speed--time limit
quality--tolerances

For our example, a standard could be "within 20 minutes."

When you have defined all three parts of the performance objective, combine them and write the objective in this order: condition, performance statement, and standard. For example, you might write, "Given the appropriate tools, change a flat automobile tire within 20 minutes."

Many training professionals, technical writers, and course developers struggle with writing three-part performance objectives and sometimes write only the performance statement. Employees who know the job can very easily write the three-part objectives because they know the exact conditions under which they are required to accomplish the task, they know what they must do, and they know what level of mastery is desired.

Human Performance Applications
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FAX: (206) 447-3410
E-mail: diane@teamojt.com