Vision, goals, objectives, and policies
The plan hierarchy from vision to action, writing measurable objectives, drafting policy, building in an equity framework, and setting priorities.
Lesson 17 of 40 · about 22 minutes · Outline areas: 4.4 Formulating and drafting policies; 4.5 Vision, goal, objective, policy, and priority statements; 4.6 Objectives and actions within an equity framework
Learning objectives
- Put the plan hierarchy (vision, goal, objective, policy, action) in order and explain what each level does.
- Write a measurable objective and tell it apart from a goal.
- Draft clear policy language and choose directive words deliberately.
- Apply an equity lens to goals, objectives, and actions.
- Set priorities and translate vague values, such as "character," into measurable standards.
Key concepts
The plan hierarchy
Plans move from the general to the specific. The terms vary a little from plan to plan, but the logic doesn't:
| Level | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | A shared, aspirational description of the community's desired long-range future | "In 2045, Riverton is a place where people of every age and income can live near their work, their schools, and the river." |
| Goal | A broad statement of a desired end state; not directly measurable | "Housing choices meet the needs of residents at all income levels." |
| Objective | A specific, measurable, usually time-bound target that moves toward a goal | "Permit 2,000 new homes affordable to households below 80% of area median income by 2035." |
| Policy | A statement of the course of action the jurisdiction commits to follow when it makes decisions | "The city shall allow duplexes and triplexes in all residential districts." |
| Action (implementation measure) | A specific task with a responsible party, timeline, and resources | "Planning Department: draft zoning amendments allowing duplexes and triplexes citywide; present to Council by June 2026." |
A quick test: a goal is broad, an objective is measurable, and a policy guides decisions. "Improve walkability" is a goal. "Increase the share of residents living within a ten-minute walk of a park from 60% to 80% by 2035" is an objective.
Builds one example from a vision statement down to an assigned action, so the difference between a goal, an objective, and a policy is easy to see.
6 more sections follow in the full lesson.
Key terms
- Vision: A shared description of the community's desired long-range future.
- Goal: A broad statement of a desired end state.
- Objective: A specific, measurable, time-bound target that advances a goal.
- Policy: A statement of the course of action a jurisdiction will follow in making decisions.
- Action (implementation measure): A specific task with an assigned party, timeline, and resources.
- SMART objective: One that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
- Baseline: The measured starting value an objective is compared against.
- Equity lens: A set of questions examining who benefits, who is burdened, and who is included.
- Disaggregated data: Data broken out by subgroup or geography rather than reported only as a total.
- Priority statement: A statement ranking or sequencing actions.
- Impact-effort matrix: A chart that ranks actions by their benefit and the effort they require.
- Phasing: Assigning actions to short-, medium-, and long-term time frames.
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