Which statement defines the 3-step process of goal setting?

• A. Checking budgetary resources, writing new goals, and establishing schedules.
• B. Selecting the goal, determining a course of action, and allocating resources to meet the goals.
• C. Selecting the goal, determining which employees are needed to meet the goal, and writing SOPs.
• D. None of the above.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to set goals using three connected steps: decide what you want to achieve, outline how you’ll get there, and ensure you have what you need to make it happen. The statement that best fits this sequence says you first select the goal, then determine a course of action, and finally allocate resources to meet the goals.

Selecting the goal defines the target you’re aiming for. Determining a course of action lays out the plan or steps you’ll take to reach that target. Allocating resources makes sure you have the necessary people, budget, equipment, time, and materials to execute the plan. In a lab setting, this could mean choosing a project or objective, mapping out the steps to complete it, and ensuring you have staff, funding, and supplies to carry it out.

The other options mix in elements that aren’t part of the core three-step goal-setting process. Checking budgetary resources and establishing schedules behave more like later planning or monitoring activities rather than the essential three-step sequence. Including staffing decisions and SOPs focuses on implementation details rather than the basic goal-setting flow. So the described sequence—selecting the goal, determining a course of action, and allocating resources—is the best fit.