objective
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objective
The process of defining goals, or the formulated goal itself. It describes what is to be achieved.
Die wichtigste Zielsetzung des Unternehmens für dieses Jahr ist die Expansion in neue Märkte.
The company's most important objective for this year is expansion into new markets.
The word is a compound of 'Ziel' (goal) and 'Setzung' (setting). 'Setzung' comes from the verb 'setzen' (to set). So a 'Zielsetzung' (objective) is literally the act of 'setting' or defining a goal.
Bevor wir anfangen, müssen wir klare Ziele setzen.
Before we start, we need to set clear goals.
'Zielsetzung' (objective) is a formal word that is frequently used in professional contexts such as management, projects, or academia. It sounds more official and structured than just 'das Ziel' (the goal).
Die strategische Zielsetzung wurde vom Vorstand beschlossen.
The strategic objective was decided by the board.
Common adjectives are 'klare' (clear), 'langfristige' (long-term), or 'realistische' (realistic) with 'Zielsetzung' (objective). Typical verbs are 'eine Zielsetzung definieren' (to define an objective), 'verfolgen' (to pursue), or 'erreichen' (to achieve).
Ohne eine klare Zielsetzung arbeitet das Team ineffizient.
Without a clear objective, the team works inefficiently.
goal / destination / target
Ziel and Zielsetzung can both express what is to be achieved. Ziel directly names the desired result; Zielsetzung emphasizes that this result was deliberately defined or explicitly formulated. In a formal project description, Zielsetzung is therefore often the better choice.
Die Zielsetzung des Projekts wurde schriftlich festgelegt: Die Wartezeit soll bis zum Sommer halbiert werden.
The project’s objective was set down in writing: the waiting time is to be halved by the summer.
Unser Ziel ist, die Wartezeit bis zum Sommer zu halbieren.
Our goal is to halve the waiting time by the summer.
