Difference Between Aims and Objectives

Aims vs Objectives
For every individual or a group to mover forwards and prosper in the field of work or even personal life, it is highly essential and a basic requirement to have clear aims and objectives. Aims and objectives appear to be two very similar words, very often used loosely to represent target or goals but are actually significantly different from each other.

An aim can be defined as the general statements or sentences that identify the target of a program. And an objective is a more specific target set in order to achieve the goal on a larger front. This write up is an attempt to highlight the differences between and mark the areas that distinguish the two terms, particularly to their characteristics and usage.

A major difference between aims and objectives is in terms of specification. An objective is always as specific as it can be, whereas, an aim as compared to objective can be considered as slightly vague. Aims can be considered as a general statement.

Another difference is in reference with a time frame. Any objective, set for a project or a program, is always accompanied by a time frame. This is not the case with aims. Aims do not contain a time frame within which they need to be achieved. For example, for a project, an aim would be something like, increasing the sales of the company from 20% to 40 %. But an objective would be increasing the sales of the company from 20% to 40% in 4 years. Objectives follow the SMART style of management. Here SMART, refers to target being set in the frame work of being specific, measurable, accurate, reasonable and time is followed. An aim does not have or need not follow the frame work mentioned above.

To sum it all up, aims are the goal set and objectives are the measurements which we undertake in order to achieve the aims.

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