Objectives are typically what drive each and every person toward a set series of goals throughout their lives and in a shorter term throughout individual life series and life sequences. In many cases, objectives can be modified or changed as a person’s goals and interests change. In the world of project management, objectives represent the series of goals or ideals towards which a project team leader or project team will direct their work and direct their work strategies and or direct their strategic positioning to which they hope to advance. Objectives can also refer to a particular purpose that the project management team needs to attain and or any particular results that need to be accomplished. In more tangible scenarios, objectives can refer to a specific series of products that must be produced as well as particular services that need to be performed for the sake of accomplishing a set series of goals. Objectives can be modified as the end goals of a project team may change, although typically they are merely modifications of the original.
This term is defined in the 3rd and the 4th edition of the PMBOK.