Which criterion would you emphasize to ensure progress can be demonstrated with data?

• A. Measurable
• B. Time Constrained
• C. Attainable
• D. Reliable

Answer: (A)

Progress that can be demonstrated with data relies on outcomes you can quantify. When something is measurable, you can assign numbers, units, or timestamps to it, which lets you establish a baseline, track changes over time, and compare results to a target. This concreteness is what makes data tell a story about progress—you can plot trends, calculate improvements, and draw evidence-based conclusions.

Others considerations don’t guarantee that progress will show up in data in the same way. Time constraints address deadlines rather than how you capture or display progress. Attainability is about whether a goal is realistic, but without measurable outcomes, you can’t clearly show whether that goal was reached. Reliability matters for how consistently you measure, but it’s not enough on its own if the outcome isn’t defined in measurable terms.