Business Aims & Objectives (AQA GCSE Business)
Revision Note
Written by: Lisa Eades
Reviewed by: Steve Vorster
What are Business Aims & Objectives?
Business aims are the long-term goals or aspirations of an organisation
Business objectives are the specific, measurable outcomes that businesses hope to achieve in a given time period
Every successful business needs to have clear aims and objectives that guide its operations and focus the efforts of all employees towards the same goal
Aims and objectives are critical for businesses to function effectively and achieve long-term success
E.g. A business's aim may be to become the market leader in a particular industry
Suitable objectives may include increasing sales by 25% over the next three years, improving customer satisfaction by 15%, and expanding into new geographic markets
Diagram: The link Between Aims and Objectives
Business objectives are derived from the overall business aim
Objectives are most useful when they are SMART
Specific: it states precisely what is to be achieved
Measurable: the desired outcome is expressed in quantitative terms
Achievable: it is possible with the people and resources involved
Realistic: it is possible within the set timeframe
Time specific: the timeframe or date by which the objective is to be achieved is clear
An example of a SMART objective might be for a business to increase its sales revenue by 10% by the end of the year
The role of Business Aims & Objectives
Aims and objectives allow managers to determine and communicate exactly what they want the business to achieve
Managers can set targets and goals for employees and workplace teams
Aims and objectives can act as motivators, as workers can understand the contribution of their hard work to business success
Employees may receive a financial reward for their progress towards meeting objectives
Investors and other interested stakeholders can understand the direction the business is choosing to pursue
This can help them decide whether to align themselves with the business
Priorities can be determined when making business decisions
Decisions that have a direct impact on the achievement of aims and objectives can be considered before others
The main Business Objectives
Many businesses pursue one or more of a range of common business objectives
Many of these are financially-focused
Aims and objectives are centred on increasing revenue or profit, reducing costs, maximising shareholder value or ensuring survival
Businesses may also pursue non-financial aims and objectives
These may include fulfilling personal ambitions, making a positive contribution to society or improving employee welfare
Examples of Common Business Objectives
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Survival |
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Growth |
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Profit |
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Market share |
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Shareholder value |
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Customer satisfaction |
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Social and ethical objectives |
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Financial security |
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Examiner Tips and Tricks
In the exam, you could be asked to identify common business objectives. The question may ask specifically for financial or non-financial objectives. Make sure that your answer is specific to this question stem.
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