Final answer:
Improvement initiatives require goals or objectives to be articulated as evaluative claims, stating not what is, but what should be. These goals should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound, supported by evidence to ensure they are convincing and actionable.
Step-by-step explanation:
When justifying improvement initiatives, the expected benefits should be expressed in the form of goals or objectives. These should be articulated as evaluative claims which interpret facts or assert what should be the case. Instead of simply stating what is, these claims offer a vision of what should be improved or pursued.
To ensure that these goals are actionable and likely to be successful, they must be both achievable and appropriate. This requires a clear understanding of how to achieve these objectives through proper planning. Part of this process is identifying the primary purpose or goal of the project and structuring it effectively to appeal to the intended audience.
Each goal or objective should be made SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This provides a clear, detailed and quantifiable framework to gauge progress and success. Providing evidence in the form of facts, statistics, and expert opinions further supports the goals and illustrates why they are important, acting as a persuasive technique to engage the audience.