A measurable goal allows a business to track progress and perform evaluations based on what?

A measurable goal provides specific criteria for assessing progress and outcomes, which aligns with performance standards. Performance standards are defined metrics or criteria against which an organization measures its output and effectiveness. They enable a business to evaluate whether it is meeting its established objectives, understanding where improvements can be made, and ensuring accountability across the team or organization.

By setting measurable goals tied to these standards, businesses can track progress quantitatively, using concrete data rather than subjective or vague metrics. This structured approach helps in making informed decisions and adjustments based on clear expectations and results. Performance-based evaluations also enhance motivation among team members, as they can see tangible results from their efforts.

The other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not offer the same level of clarity or accountability in goal evaluation as performance standards do. General assumptions may be too vague and subjective, flexible criteria could lead to inconsistent evaluations, and historical data alone does not serve as a clear benchmark for assessing current performance against specific goals without the context of established standards.