George T. Doran is credited with developing the SMART goals framework.
In 1981, George T. Doran, a consultant and former director of corporate planning for Washington Water Power Company, published a paper titled, “There's a SMART Way to Write Management's Goals and Objectives.” This paper introduced the SMART criteria as a way to make goals more effective and achievable. While the specific meaning of each letter in the SMART acronym has evolved over time, Doran's initial concept laid the foundation for the widespread use of SMART goals in various fields, including business, education, and personal development.
The original SMART acronym, as proposed by Doran, stood for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Assignable
- Realistic
- Time-related
While Doran created the framework, the acronym's exact interpretation has varied over the years. Different organizations and individuals have adapted the meaning of the letters to suit their specific needs. Common variations include "Achievable" instead of "Assignable" and "Time-bound" instead of "Time-related." However, the core principle of creating well-defined, actionable goals remains the same.