competing objectives

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "competing objectives" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing goals or aims that are in conflict with one another, often in a business or project management context. Example: "In our project, we have to balance competing objectives such as cost reduction and quality improvement."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it is caught between competing objectives.

The Economist

Marrying the two competing objectives can be quite tough".

The Guardian

Mr. Gephardt, a Missouri Democrat, is on a complicated mission with perhaps competing objectives this fall.

The New York Times

One of the authors' chief insights is that every organization faces trade-offs — inherent conflicts between competing objectives.

The New York Times

To make adequate comparisons between competing objectives, a logical frame of reference, broad enough to include both, is needed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This maintained that, far from being a neutral medium for policy implementation, the law might be used to promote various competing objectives.

The Guardian

His critics saw it as unrealistic, using a mindless "win-win" argot to paper over the inevitable conflicts that arose from competing objectives.

The Economist

These are typically competing objectives.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Feedback regulation of fluid transport reconciles these competing objectives.

Biosystems

Similarly, DE was used to solve OPF problem with multiple and competing objectives [46].

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

In cases with multiple competing objectives, there is no single optimal solution (Jeongwoo and Papalambros 2010).

Environmental Systems Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing "competing objectives", clearly define each objective and prioritize them based on strategic importance. This allows for effective decision-making and resource allocation.

Common error

Avoid the pitfall of assuming all "competing objectives" can be fully achieved simultaneously. Acknowledge and manage the inevitable trade-offs between them to avoid unrealistic expectations and project delays.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "competing objectives" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, noting its occurrence in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

31%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "competing objectives" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes conflicting goals or aims. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity, showing its widespread use across diverse fields such as science, news, and formal business settings. Effective communication involving "competing objectives" necessitates clear definition, prioritization, and acknowledgement of trade-offs. Related phrases like "conflicting objectives" and "rival aims" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting objectives

Emphasizes the clash or incompatibility between goals.

competing aims

Replaces "objectives" with "aims", a close synonym.

rival objectives

Highlights the adversarial nature of the objectives.

opposing goals

Focuses on the direct opposition between goals.

contradictory goals

Stresses the logical inconsistency between goals.

incompatible targets

Indicates that the targets cannot be achieved simultaneously.

clashing purposes

Emphasizes the conflict in underlying reasons or intentions.

conflicting intentions

Focuses on the discord between desired outcomes.

competing purposes

Uses "purposes" instead of "objectives", implying a broader scope.

divergent goals

Highlights the fact that the goals are going in different directions.

FAQs

How to use "competing objectives" in a sentence?

You can use "competing objectives" to describe situations where different goals or aims are in conflict. For example, "The project manager had to balance the "competing objectives" of staying within budget and delivering high quality results."

What can I say instead of "competing objectives"?

You can use alternatives like "conflicting objectives", "opposing goals", or "rival aims" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "competing objectives" and "conflicting objectives"?

While similar, "competing objectives" implies a struggle for resources or priority, whereas "conflicting objectives" suggests a direct opposition or incompatibility.

How do you balance "competing objectives" in project management?

Balancing "competing objectives" involves prioritizing tasks, allocating resources strategically, and making informed trade-offs to achieve the most critical goals while minimizing negative impacts on other objectives.