Unit 2 P1
Aims are broad statements of desired outcomes, or the general intentions of the research, which 'paint a picture' of your research project. They emphasize what is to be accomplished (not how it is to be accomplished). They address the long-term project outcomes, i.e. they should reflect the aspirations and expectations of the research topic. Once aims have been established, the next task is to formulate the objectives. Generally, a project should have no more than two or three aims statements, while it may include a number of objectives consistent with them.
Objectives are subsidiary to aims and are the steps you are going to take to answer your research questions or a specific list of tasks needed to accomplish the goals of the project. They emphasize how aims are to be accomplished and must be highly focused and feasible. They must address the more immediate project outcomes and make accurate use of concepts. They must be sensible and precisely described and should read as an 'individual' statement to convey your intentions Private owned companies such as Tesco focus on customers, employees, the cost of their products and whether they are offering value for money. Tesco’s mission statement is ‘we create value for customers to earn their lifetime loyalty.’
Publicly owned organisations such as the Department of Transport may mention the service they provide, the work they do and include statements about quality, efficiency and customer service. The Department of Transport mission statement is ‘Working to deliver a transport system which balances the needs of the economy, the environment and society.’
Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations such as The British Red Cross focus on services they provide, the causes they support or their aims in helping those in need. The mission of The British Red Cross is as follows; ‘The British Red Cross helps people who are in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to conflicts, natural disasters and individual emergencies. We enable vulnerable people in the UK to prepare for and withstand emergencies in their own communities. And when the crisis is over we help them to recover and move on with their lives.’
Many mission statements are quite short. Others are longer. They include the aims and objectives of the business, in other words, what the business is going to do and how it’s going to achieve the mission.