## Components 1. **When?** The *achieve-by date* 2. **What?** Desired outcome tracked by a single score/metric 3. **How?** The desired [Operating Patterns](Operating%20Patterns.md) (“how to play”) ## Rules 1. The Next Target Condition must be aligned to the Challenge 1. Something that **cannot** be achieved now 6. Only establish **one** single target condition at a time 3. Describes *only* state, with a process metric *and* at least one operating pattern 4. Do not describe *negative* state or the removal of an obstacle 5. Must be measurable and specific 6. Must not say how to get there: no solutions! 7. Never expresses assumptions or state conjectures 9. You can add to (but never change) a TC later: less is more ## Tips - Achieve-by dates: 1 week to 3 months ahead - Avoid the use of verbs, especially ones that obfuscate the target metric or outcome, like "reduce", "minimize", "improve", "increase", "understand", “create” - Should be described as if you are already there - Should describe the desired _positive_ **state** *outcomes* (not *outputs*, not the lack of some state {negative state}) - Should describe [Operating Patterns](Operating%20Patterns.md) and a metric that tracks progress towards the desired outcome - For example, the number of outages per unit time and how to get there - Should not be choices, options, or stretch goals (one target!) - Should not contain (partial) solutions ("a system to X", "create Y")