Final answer:
Standards should be attainable, which means they must be set at a level that is realistic and achievable. This approach ensures that standards serve as effective benchmarks for evaluating performance and for motivating improvement.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the lecture on standards, the correct statement is that standards should be attainable. This means that when setting standards, whether they are goals or benchmarks within a business or educational context, they ought to be set at a level that is realistic and achievable. Standards that are unrealistic do not serve a functional purpose because individual performance cannot be evaluated effectively against them. Additionally, when standards are viewed as unattainable, they can demotivate rather than inspire effort and improvement.
Applying this to goal setting within a business or personal context, goals should be Achievable and appropriate. This requires that anything aimed to be achieved should be within reach, considering existing limitations and barriers that can be reasonably overcome. Furthermore, goals should be Relevant, meaning they should support other objectives and make sense in the larger scheme of things, and Time-bound, with a clear deadline or target date for completion.
Considering the options provided in the question, the answer 'standards should be attainable' aligns with the concept of setting goals that are realistic and within the realm of possibility, thereby supporting effective planning and achievement.