Strategic Objectives

The term “strategic objectives” refers to an organization’s articulated aims or responses to address major change or improvement, competitiveness or social issues, and business advantages. Strategic objectives generally are focused both externally and internally and relate to significant customer, market, product, service, or technological opportunities and challenges (strategic challenges). Broadly stated, they are what an organization must achieve to remain or become competitive and ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability. Strategic objectives set an organization’s longer-term directions and guide resource allocations and redistributions.

See the definition of “action plans” for the relationship between strategic objectives and action plans and for an example of each.

Download Baldrige Application Information Capture and Response Template: Strategic Objectives and Supporting Goals Summary

The term "strategic objectives" appears in the Baldrige Criteria in the following locations: