Activity exists and is defined by the result it aims to achieve. This result is not and can not be the completion of actions or the completion of the activity for the activity is only complete when the results are achieved or a decision is made to abandon the results and thus the activity.

One must ask then what results task completion meets? That question can only be answered by answering others…how was task completion defined? How was the task completed? What activity is the individual executing the task participating in?

Often the activity from the individual’s perspective has an objective that the supposedly task completion actions fulfil. This activity need not be the same for another individual performing same actions or involved in the activity in a different capacity e.g. A manager or supervisor.

For example the individual’s goal may be to complete the task and completing the task means getting a supervisor to sign it off as complete. If the individual and the supervisor do not share the same objective then they are are not truly involved in the same activity. This a dangerous situation because there is a high chance the activity will never achieve it’s results. A person can only supervise so much short of personally doing the task, it is impossible to drive achievement of task objectives and thus activity objectives through supervision alone.

Thus it’s the activity that matters and since the activity is defined by results, it’s the committed results that each individual is aiming for that determines what the actions mean…

Ensuring objectives are shared with a level of personal commitment (motivated to achieve) is the only way to ensure actions will achieve desired results. Especially if the person who desires the results is not the only one who needs to act to achieve it.