Step 3) Define the Performance Indicator(s) You'll Use to Measure Your Targets

Performance Indicators: Measuring Your Progress When you establish quantifiable objectives and targets you first need to establish a Baseline. This Baseline serves as the starting point from which you will measure your progress. For example, if you set an objective to reduce hazardous waste and a target to reduce the waste by 10% by 2005, what does that mean? Fifty pounds, 100 pounds, or 1000 pounds? You will first need to determine how much hazardous waste was generated the previous year. Is information available to make this calculation? If not, what level of effort is necessary to define the Baseline? You may find that no baseline data exist. If so, do not let this stop you from moving forward. Set a plan to determine your baseline as a first step.