undefined goals

[/ʌnˈdɛfaɪnd ɡoʊlz/]
noun phrase
objetivos indefinidos
1. Goals or objectives that lack clear definition, specific parameters, or measurable criteria
The project failed because the team was working with undefined goals from the beginning.
O projeto fracassou porque a equipe estava trabalhando com objetivos indefinidos desde o início.
2. Aims that have not been explicitly stated, clarified, or agreed upon by stakeholders
Without defined metrics, the company operated with undefined goals for years.
Sem métricas definidas, a empresa operava com objetivos indefinidos por anos.
3. Vague or ambiguous targets that make it difficult to measure success or progress
The startup's undefined goals made it impossible to allocate resources effectively.
Os objetivos indefinidos da startup tornaram impossível alocar recursos efetivamente.
In both American and Brazilian business cultures, undefined goals are viewed negatively as a sign of poor management and lack of strategic direction. In corporate Brazil, there's particular emphasis on goal clarity in performance evaluations (avaliações de desempenho). The concept is frequently discussed in lean management and agile methodologies, which both prioritize clear, measurable objectives.
NYC Slang
wishy-washy goals; moving target; flying blind
Synonyms / Sinônimos
vague objectivesunclear aimsambiguous targetsfuzzy goalsill-defined objectives
Antonyms / Antônimos
well-defined goalsclear objectivesspecific targetsmeasurable goalsconcrete aims

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
objetivos indefinidos
Most common usage in business and organizational contexts
Rio de Janeiro
objetivos sem definição clara
Alternative phrasing emphasizing lack of clarity
São Paulo
metas não definidas
Corporate and business sector usage preferring 'metas' over 'objetivos'
Portugal
objetivos mal definidos
Portuguese preference for 'mal definidos' (poorly defined) construction

Related Words

objective settinggoal claritySMART goalsstrategic planningperformance metricsgoal alignment

Related Idioms & Phrases

shooting in the dark
chasing your tail
moving the goalposts
barking up the wrong tree
não saber para onde ir (Portuguese idiom: not knowing where to go)
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