The terms Objective and Scope tend to look similar, but differ. Objective is the aim or the final result we wish to achieve by completing a certain process. The scope of a process defines the limitations that we have to face while completing a process. For a successive process, the objectives have to be achieved within the scope.
Objective vs Scope
The main difference between Objective and Scope is that the Objective is the final result that is predetermined and Scope is the limit that is to be faced during the process of achieving the results.
Objectives are the collective final results that are to be achieved while completing a process. Objectives are generally pre-determined and the process is directed to achieve them. For every day to day work we do, an objective is attached which will be the final result of our work.
Scope determines the path through which an outcome is produced. While completing a project, the scope decides the limits to complete it and it is important to analyze the scope of a process before the process gets started. Only if the scope of the process is studied thoroughly, the objectives can be achieved.
Comparison Table Between Objective and Scope (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of Comparison | Objective | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The objective of a project determines the achievements one intends by completing a project. | The scope of a project includes the limitations one has to face during the project. |
| Applicability | The objective determines the output for a desired operation. | Scope determines the range of applicability. What cannot be included is out of scope. |
| Planning phase | During the planning phase, objectives are to be known to make a plan. | During the planning phase, the scope is to be analyzed and according to the scope, the plan has to be prepared to achieve the objectives. |
| Clarity | Objectives during a process are clear and only if objectives are clear, the process is operational. | Scopes can vary even after a process begins. The scope should be pre-determined but accidental changes are possible. |
| Example | The objective of a homeless person is to buy a new home. | The scope of this person is the amount he has to buy the house. |
What is Objective?
Objectives are the goals that are to be achieved while a certain process gets completed. Objectives are pre-determined beforehand. While initiating a process/experiment it should be clear for the workers about the goal that they have to achieve when they complete the operation.
Objectives can be numeral in a single operation. According to the efforts needed on a project, the objectives can be different. Every stage during a process may give results to one of the objectives. New objectives are generally not entertained during the implementation phase of a project.
The term objective may be analyzed differently in different sectors. Hence the objectives of a business field may not match with that of the education sector. But what is similar is that, all these fields set up their objectives earlier to give them a clear route to achieve them. Generally, objectives are determined in the initial phase of operation.
The success of achieving an objective is over only after the completion of the process. So the objective of a process is one of the aspects that travels throughout the journey of completion. So it is important to carefully decide the objectives of a process.
What is Scope?
The scope of a process is the factor that determines the range and the boundary of the process. The process gets the opportunity to flourish only after knowing the scope of the process. It determines the limitations that have to be faced while the course of operation occurs.
The scope of a process should be pre-determined before the operation starts. But the accidentals limitations that can happen during the process can also not be avoided. So the path that is chosen to complete the process, may have to be altered for the success of the process.
In most of the situations, the scope is concentrated towards the time, resources, and capital investment. Each one of these factors can alter the rest of the factors. If the deadline of a process is short, then more resources and investments have to be put on and vice-versa. A team has to study and determine the scope before the process begins.
For the effective usage of resources, the scope has to be pre-determined and there should be a backup procedure if any unexpected incidents occur that again limits the present scope. So it is to be noted that scope is a factor in process management that can even alter the objectives of the process.
Main Differences Between Objective and Scope
- Objectives are the pre-determined goals that are to be achieved while completing a process. Scope is the limitation that a process faces from the beginning to the end.
- Objectives are pre-determined and are fixed throughout the process. The scope of a process is also fixed before a process begins, but unexpected accidents can alter the determined scope, and accordingly the process has to be re-arranged.
- Objectives determine the final output of a process while scope determines the range of applicability of the process.
- Objectives depend upon scope. If the objective is out of scope, it cannot be implemented using the current resources and time given. Scope doesn’t depend upon objectives. It only depends upon external factors such as resources, climate, and time.
- Objectives are to be planned in the initial phase but the scope can be altered in any phase including the initial one.
Conclusion
The terms objective and scope are inter-connected. Objectives are the achievements intended for which efforts are out on some processes whereas a scope is a limitation that is to be acknowledged so that, new plans are made up to cover it well.
When objectives of a process can be known before, scope may or may not be known before. Both of these are important for a well-planned assignment. If the scope of a project is not being studied, even the basic objective may not be achieved and this ruins the entire plan.
References
- http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/objective.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scope_(project_management)