Purpose - Aim - Target - Intention - Goal

The terms Role, Function, Intention, Purpose, Aim, Target are sometimes used in systems literature in ways that create confusion and unclarity. The purpose of this article is to provide precise definitions and clarity. In some cases, the terms can be clarified better by looking at how they are different.

Distinctions between Role, Purpose, Mission, and Function

Role	Defines where a person or entity fits into the overall scope of things. The position or purpose that someone or something has in a situation, organization, society, or relationship. For example, a carpenter is the head. The hammer (i.e., tool) operates under the carpenter but ahead of the nails. In the context of organizations, defining the roles of team members helps keep everyone organized, knowing who will be responsible for what tasks.
Function	The kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution. The purpose for which something is designed or exists. For example, the function of a tool is the tasks that a particular role is assigned to accomplish. A hammer is a tool. To describe the function of a hammer, though, a hammer drives nails, removes nails, and generally hits other lesser tools really, really hard. In the context of an organization, to describe say the function of a Project Manager (this is a role) we look at the list of the tasks this role is/will be doing. These tasks form the function of a particular role.
Mission	mission is what it does
Purpose	The “why” behind a function. The reason for which something exists or is done, made, or used. Applied to organizations, purpose pinpoints to the ultimate goal of our efforts. To what end are we giving our time and energy? The answers define our purpose. While the function of a tool is the tasks that a particular role is assigned to accomplish, purpose is the “why” behind the function.

Distinctions between Aim and Target/Objectives

Aim	What we hope to get or what we want to do; might take a long period of time.
Target/Objectives	The exact result of what we want to get; it is tangible and concrete.

Distinction between Purpose and Intention

The generally accepted definition is that an organisation's purpose is the reason or why it exists - why it does what it does.

Strategic intent focuses the Management's attention on tasks and activities that will fulfil the organization's purpose. Employee intention focuses an individual's attention on tasks that contribute most to the organisation's purpose. In an ideal scenario, employees' personal intentions for their life and career (core intentions) should dovetail in some way with the organization's purpose.

Stafford Beer proposed POSIWID.

POSIWID

The Purpose Of a System Is What It Does. There is no point in claiming that the purpose of a system is to do what it constantly fails to do.

Systems theorists widely use the term to counter the notion that the purpose of a system can be read from the intentions of those who design, operate, or promote it. When a system's side effects or unintended consequences reveal that its behavior is poorly understood, then the POSIWID perspective can balance political understandings of system behavior with a more straightforwardly descriptive view.

Purpose	The reason “why” we do what we do. Something we might have already done. It explains ‘why’. (e.g. I came here to see you.)
Intention	Something we want to do but have not done it yet. Focuses attention on making things happen. Example: I intend to go to the shops this afternoon. Intention shapes what we say and how we behave, which can result in getting results or achieving targets, but it’s not our overarching purpose. Intention is a way to get there.

Intention vs Goal

The main difference between intention and goal is that intentions are vague and broad, while goals are comparatively more specific.
Goals involve the expectations, actions, and results of what we want to achieve.

Both intentions and goals describe what we want to achieve:

• An intention is an idea we plan to carry out.
• A goal is an aim or objective that we work toward with effort and determination
• We usually create goals based on our intentions.

Both intentions and goals have a time dimension:

• Goals are a destination or specific achievement.
• Intentions are lived each day, independent of achieving the goal or destination.

Intentions and goals differ on whether they are external or relational

• Goals are external achievements.
• Intentions are about our relationship with ourself and others.