Goals - Definition and Overview

In Organizational Development, goals represent desired future states of organizations. Goals and objectives are similar but can be distinguished:

• Since goals represent the end state, they may be 1 to 3 years out
• Objectives represent pieces of the goal (or steps toward a goal) and may be accomplished in less than a year

For goals to be most effective, all members of an organization must understand the goals and be aligned with the goals.

Also see

• Goal
• Strategic planning
• Management