We’re relatively new to using Asana’s goal features, and we’re finding many goals are driven by a single project. The issue is that status updates need to be entered twice: one for the project and another for the goal. Or what actually happens: status updates haphazardly happen in one or the other.
We’re trying to train users to standardize that all updates should be on the goal, but then these statuses aren’t visible in portfolios.
Maybe our goals are too in-the-weeds, and they should be projects that live in a portfolio… Anyone have perspective on this situation?
Goals have measures and are about the intent of work, whereas projects have tasks and specify the work itself. Goals might be set annually with status/progress updates quarterly, and projects are updated continuously with status reported monthly or weekly, perhaps. These statuses are not really reporting on the same thing.
I’m not sure what your goal looks like vs. your project, but I’d say you should use whatever approach you feel works for you, with the understanding that the Asana features were designed more in line with my general description above. Also note there are various ways to set up goals’ progress tracking including three different automatic progress updates that may mean goal statuses are not needed.
@lpb Thanks for the feedback. From your explanation, I should update my understanding of goals to be more aligned with traditional corporate mission / vision (the “why” and “how” for an organization – not the “what” we’re doing to get there).
To give more context, we run on 90-day SMART goals (“rocks” in other parlance), which are far more specific and measurable than simple “intent.” I can use this, though, to clarify what belongs as an Asana goal vs project. Thank you!
90-day rocks sound more tactical to me than annual goals; I generally associate goals in Asana with strategic planning, not tactical work.
But regardless, these features (goals, progress/measures, portfolios, milestones, etc.) are flexible tools that can be used in different ways, so really all options are still on the table, just using the features wisely and specifically in service of your unique needs and approach.