Writing Technology Plan Goals

Write down goals with as many precise and vivid details as possible.

• Writing increases commitment and helps program goals into the subconcious.
• Writing details makes goals more concrete, more real and less abstract.

• Numbers make success or failure more clear; more real; less abstract.
  
  (A plan says, "We want to connect all our computers to the Internet." This phrase is meaningless until numbers are given. How many computers? Thirty-five? Three? Or just one? Compare with "We want to connect two staff computers and three public access computers to the Internet by December 31, 2000." When December 31, 2000 arrives, we can tell whether or not this goal is reached.)

• as if the goals have already occurred
  
  Write: "All library staff have e-mail accounts on December 2000."
  Not: "I want e-mail accounts for all library staff by December 2000."
  
  
• using positive statements identifying what we should do, not negative statements about what we should not do
  
  Write: "The library web page is reviewed and updated weekly."
  Not: "The library web page does not contain outdated information."

• Answer the following questions:
  
  

  Do I have the skills?
  Do I have the resources?
  Do I have the time?

• Deadlines give a sense of urgency which stimulates our creative energies.