Review goals with evidence without removing human judgment

The short answer

Review a goal through three lenses: verified outcome, controllable execution and context. Metrics show what changed, narrative explains relevant conditions and uncertainty prevents missing data from becoming a confident conclusion.

Use the evidence triangle

1. Outcome Did the externally visible result occur, and how was it verified?
2. Execution Were the intended inputs completed with the expected quality and timing?
3. Context Which external dependency, constraint or new information materially affected interpretation?

Classify the gap correctly

If inputs were not completed, begin with execution or capacity. If inputs were completed but the result did not move, investigate strategy or conversion. If the result moved with little input, identify whether luck, an existing asset or an underestimated mechanism explains it.

Do not let a compelling narrative erase the numbers, and do not let a number erase important context. The review should show both and state which conclusion remains uncertain.

Questions

Should incomplete goals automatically roll over?

No. Re-rank them against current strategy and evidence; some should be changed or removed.

What if the goal definition changed?

Preserve the original, record the reason for revision and evaluate the new definition separately.

How should subjective context be used?

Use it to form and test explanations, not to silently overwrite verified outcomes.