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What is the difference between goals and objectives?

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Question added by nisreen essam , Personal Assistant , Salem Travel Agency
Date Posted: 2016/05/12
Ghada Eweda
by Ghada Eweda , Medical sales hospital representative , Pfizer pharmaceutical Plc.

Basically, When you have something you want to accomplish, it is important to set both goals and objectives. However,Goals without objectives can never be accomplished while objectives without goals will never get you to where you want to be. The two concepts are separate but related and will help you to be who you want to be. Goals  are long-term aims that you want to accomplish while objectives are concrete attainments that can be achieved by following a certain number of steps. Goals and objectives are often used interchangeably, but the main difference comes in their level of concreteness. Objectives are very concrete, whereas goals are less structured. Remembering the Differences between Goals and Objectives is important when you are giving a presentation to a potential or current employer, knowing the difference between goals and objectives can be crucial to the acceptance of your proposal. Here is an easy way to remember how they differ: Goals  has the word ‘go’ in it wherein your goals should go forward in a specific direction. Moreover, goals are more about everything you accomplish on your journey, rather than getting to that distant point. Goals will often go into undiscovered territory and you therefore can’t even know where the end will be . on the other hand, Objectives  has the word ‘object’ in it. Objects are concrete, they are something that you can hold in your hand. Because of this, your objectives can be clearly outlined with timelines, budgets, and personnel needs and every area of each objective should be firm.

The following comparison would help you for differentiation: 

1-Meaning

Goal The purpose toward which an endeavor is directed. While Objective is Something that one's efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; target.

2-Examples

Example of Goal if I want to achieve success in the field of market research and do what no one has ever done. While Objective I want to complete my MBA or thesis on marketing by the end of this year.

3-Action

Goal has Generic action, or better still, an outcome towards which we strive. while Objective Specific action - the objective supports attainment of the associated goal.

4- Measure

Goals may not be strictly measurable or tangible while objectives Must be measurable and tangible.

5- Time frame

Goals has Longer term while objectives Mid to short term.

nisreen essam
by nisreen essam , Personal Assistant , Salem Travel Agency

Goals ‘“ are long-term aims that you want to accomplish.Objectives ‘“ are concrete attainments that can be achieved by following a certain number of steps.

1. Goals and objectives are both tools for accomplishing what you want to achieve.2. Goals are long term and objectives are usually accomplished in the short or medium term.3. Goals are nebulous and you can’t definitively say you have accomplished one whereas the success of an objective can easily be measured.4. Goals are hard to quantify or put in a timeline, but objectives should be given a timeline to be more effective

Heavenly J John
by Heavenly J John , National Head - Aftersales for Ford , Saud Bahwan Group

Goal is Subjective - I want to become a Leader of PEACE globally to enure the world enjoy PEACE.

Objectives - World must recognise me for this. To become I must do certain things to bring PEACE. I must set objectives first to become a Person of PEACE locally; then regionally; then nationally and finally globally.

Deleted user
by Deleted user

Thanks for the invitation

 

The major differences between goals and objectives are provided below

 

The goals are the broad targets, which can be achieved through continuous actions taken in the particular direction. Objectives are the aims that you want to achieve in a short span of time

 

The goals are the end result i.e. a primary outcome, but if we talk about objective it is a stepping stone for achieving the goal

 

The goals are based on ideas, whereas objectives are facts based

 

When it is about time limit, it is difficultto correctly determine that in how much time it can be achieved, but objectives can be time bound, in essence they can be attained in a given period of time 

 

It is hard to measure goals, i.e. how much distance you have covered till now, while chasing your goal and how much is left to be achieved  on the other hand, objectives are easy to measure

 

The goals are generally abstract, while objectives are concrete

 

The goals require general actions to attain it. As opposed to objectives, that needs specific actions

 

 

Nadjib RABAHI
by Nadjib RABAHI , Freelancer , My own account

The goal is more general as the objective,

The goal is generally used to describe the level of ambition and the criteria that will be used to evaluate the success.

The descritpion goals:

- The economic goals

- Quantitative goals

- Qualitative goals

- The development goals.

The goals are long term,

As part of a strategic demarche the goals of a company are:

- Remuneration of shareholders

- Being leader on the market

- Assume social responsibility

- Satisfy its employees

The objectives are short term

The objectives are often quantitative and are time-bound:

- Turnover

- profit

- rate of growth.

The objectives are then revitalized and transformed into precise actions

The objectives can be fixed for an individual or a unit for a specific period.

 

Omar Saad Ibrahem Alhamadani
by Omar Saad Ibrahem Alhamadani , Snr. HR & Finance Officer , Sarri Zawetta Company

Thanks

Strongly agree with the  great answer given by Mrs. Ghada

Muhammad Moeen Bhatti
by Muhammad Moeen Bhatti , Cluster Incharge , Premier DLC - A project of Beaconhouse Group

agreed with the experts....

in my point of view we can say that to achieve any goal we have to complete the required objectives for the said goal

Abdullah Alshamrani
by Abdullah Alshamrani

goals are general and have no timing and under it, the objectives come with more precise words and time  to achieve the goals.

Nuridin Islam Diab
by Nuridin Islam Diab , Training Manager , Bbusinesss LLE

Linguistically they both have the same meaning, but in corporations they use goals for long term and objectives for short term. 

Asad khan
by Asad khan , Product specialist , shaigan pharmaceutical

Goals are defined as the lifelong aims, which you endeavor to achieve something. Objectives are the specific milestones which a person plans to achieve in a limited period of time.

Kareem Ibrahim   Abdullah
by Kareem Ibrahim Abdullah , Administration & HR Manager , Dar Al Teeb for perfumes and cosmetics Co.

goals are means when the player record one goal but the objectives are means that when you wanna to achieve something 

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