According to Quality Improvement, how are goals typically structured?

• A. They replace logic models
• B. They determine funding sources
• C. They provide a framework for specific, measurable, achievable goals for process improvement
• D. They are not used in QI

Answer: (C)

Goals in Quality Improvement are designed to be clear targets that guide what you change and how you measure success. They provide a framework for specific, measurable, and achievable aims for improving a process, often aligned with SMART principles so teams can track progress and know when a change is making a difference. Clear aims help determine what to measure, what to test in Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and when to adjust your approach. They complement, rather than replace, other planning tools like logic models, which map activities to outcomes, and they aren’t about selecting funding sources—that’s handled through separate processes. Using well-structured goals is essential in QI to keep improvement efforts focused, evaluable, and actionable.