The Difference between Goals & Objectives

@[英语易错单词|Goals|Objectives|英语学习|英语单词]

Often in business and education we talk about goals and objectives, indeed sometimes we use the terms interchangeably – but are they the same?
Lets start with some history and definitions:

Goal
1530s, “end point of a race,” of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.E. *gal “obstacle, barrier,” a word implied by gælan “to hinder.” The word goal appears once before this, in a poem from early 14c. and with an apparent sense of “boundary, limit.” Sports sense of “place where the ball is put to score” is attested from 1540s. Figurative sense of “object of an effort” is from 1540s

Objective
1610s, originally in the philosophical sense of “considered in relation to its object” (opposite of subjective), formed on pattern of M.L. objectivus, from objectum “object” (see object (n.)). Meaning “impersonal, unbiased” is first found 1855, influenced by Ger. objektiv. The noun is 1738, with sense of “something objective to the mind;” meaning “goal, aim” is first as a military term from the American Civil War, 1864 (in objective point), from French; general use of it is first attested 1881

---

Goals & Objectives in a modern business & educational sense

It has been said that Goals without objectives can never be achieved while objectives without goals will never get you to where you want to be. Indeed the two concepts are related and yet separate. Using both can enable you (or the organization) to be and do what you want to do.

Some management academics would say that the difference between goals and objectives is that a goal is a description of a destination, and an objective is a measure of the progress that is needed to get to the destination.

In this context goals are the long term outcomes you (or the organization) want/ need to achieve. More often than not, these goals can be broken into “chunks” or objectives. Goals are often open and unstructured in nature. Goals can be fluid and are directional in nature.

Objectives tend to be single achievable outcomes. They are concrete in statement and purpose. There is no ambiguity as to whether they have been achieved or not.

Goals	Objectives
Broad in scope	Narrow in scope
General intention or direction	Specific/ Precise
Intangible or “soft”	Tangible
Abstract	Solid/ Concrete
Can’t be easily measured/ validated	Can be easily measured/ validated
Large in size	Chunks
The end	Ends in themselves
The result	The means to the end
The whole	Part of the whole, often with milestones
Longer term	Shorter term

In practice what does this mean?

The site diffen.com has this useful table:

@	Goal	Objectives
Plan:	Broad plan	Narrow plan
Action:	Generic action	Specific action
Example:	I want to achieve success in the field of genetic research and do what no one has ever done.	I want to complete this thesis on genetic research by the end of this month.
Measure:	Goals may not be strictly measurable or tangible.	Must be measurable and tangible.
Time frame:	Longer term	Short to medium term
Meaning:	The purpose toward which an endeavour is directed.	Something that one’s efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; target.
Principle:	Based on ideas	Based on fact

What do Goals and Objectives look like if they are different?

Examples of Goals and Objectives

Goals:

1. I want to be the best musician in the school
2. We will be the number 1 supplier of….
3. I want to maintain a good knowledge of the profession

Objectives:

1. we will sell xxx units by June next year.
2. I will pass my stage 3 business French assessment.
3. We will deliver 90% of the contract by…

In coaching, agreeing the direction of goal, which can often be seen as softer, emotional and more engaging first, helps both the coach and the individual to narrow down the actions into specific SMART Objectives.

So what is the real difference between goals and objectives?

Simple – your desired outcome, scope and time frame… one is a goal… the other an objective.

Reference

1. https://rapidbi.com/the-difference-between-goals-objectives/