An aim or objective is a statement of what a business is trying to achieve over the next 12 months. An example of this could be a business setting itself targets in: survival, growth, increasing profit or increasing market share.
Having an objective is useful because it helps to bring together staff and focus on specific aims. Instructing staff members to work towards increasing sales, well give the team an objective to work toward and a day-to-day work focus, which can be helpful in increasing staff morale and providing a sense of future prospect.
Different organisations usually have different objectives. Some businesses are run to make as much profit as possible for its owners. However this is not the case for all. An example of this can be seen in voluntary organisations such as charities. These businesses are more concerned with providing a service to others, and will usually only aim to break even so that their work can continue.