Unit 16
P5M3D2
SMART targets at John Lewis
(Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timing)
This is a method which would be used in the organisation John Lewis to ensure that all their staff
was meeting their targets and so the employers could also monitor the staff’s performance.
They would have to consider the growth that they are predicted in the business, as well as their sales
targets for the period of time and then they could look at if the employees would be able to achieve
these targets on time. They would monitor the employees performance, and the staff which are the
most hardworking and committed to meeting the goals which have been set would be rewarded
with things such as a bonus on their pay.
SMART targets are used to help management identify the employees which need improve and the
areas that they will need the improvement in to be more successful and productive for the business.
Setting targets within the business for their staff makes it easier to identify the staff which need to
improve on their work and certain areas and can also act as a motivator for the staff as it is
something to work towards so they will feel like they have more of a purpose and will be rewarded if
they meet them. The targets would be set by management looking at their targets that have already
been set, their actual sales and the value of the product/service they are selling. The targets they set
could make the staff more motivated and could improve the productiveness in the business,
however it could also go the other way and demotivated the staff as the target could not be realistic
and may just put extra stress on the employees as they know they won’t be able to reach the target.
SMART targets would be used at John Lewis a lot and are very efficient for measuring their
employee’s performance and what they could do to maximise it. By doing this it allows management
to start advising the staff in the areas that they would need to improve in their job. This would be
done in meetings which could be in groups or one to one. John Lewis could also best appraisal
meetings for the employees in the business that are performing very well and can reward them
employees so they are motivated to keep up the work that they have been doing. It helps to identify
strengths and weaknesses of individual employees and then be able to work on them to make the
business more efficient and productive.
Specific – meaning that the target must not be too general or vague.
An example for John Lewis could be that their target could be to increase their profits in a specific
area of their products.
Measurable - using numbers to make sure the target is measurable.
An example would be by making sure that they can measure their sales by recording them.
Achievable - it must be possible for John Lewis too meet.
An example could be to make sure that they did not set the target for their sales figure too high and
make sure that it is accurate and they could achieve it.