Business objectives provide clear direction and goals for an organization. They indicate where the business wants to move in the future. Objectives are broad statements of values that a company aims to achieve over time. Objectives must be specific, measurable, challenging and relate to a specific timeframe. They are important for justifying a business's existence, facilitating planning, defining relationships, motivating achievement, and ensuring uniform operations and appropriate decision making. Objectives are categorized as organic, economic, social, human, and national and consider environmental factors, enterprise resources, individual roles, values, and past objectives.