Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

ends

English answer:

purpose, objective

Added to glossary by Michael Powers (PhD)
Jul 24, 2004 12:37
19 yrs ago
English term

ends

English Social Sciences Management
Most corporate change programmes mistake means for ends, process for outcome. The solution: focus on results, not activities.
What is the meaning of the word 'ends'?
Change log

Dec 30, 2008 09:25: Michael Powers (PhD) changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Dec 30, 2008 09:26: Michael Powers (PhD) Created KOG entry

Responses

+8
2 mins
Selected

purpose, objective

method or process vs. the actual purpose or objective

Mike :)

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Note added at 5 mins (2004-07-24 12:42:44 GMT)
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Merriam-Webster 11th edition

Definition 4a of \"end\" as a noun

an outcome worked toward : PURPOSE *the end of poetry is to be poetry — R. P. Warren* b : the object by virtue of or for the sake of which an event takes place

Mike :)
Peer comment(s):

agree Richard Benham : I actually had quite a detailed answer to anearlier version of this question, which got squashed before I could post my answer. "Means" and "ends" are often contrasted, as in "the end doesn't justify the means" or "a means to an end".
6 mins
I agree with your explanation, Richard. I squashed the question before because only one word was highlighted and it requested the meaning of the sentence; furthermore, it requested the expalantion be in English, implying a translation was desired. - Mike
agree Maya Gorgoshidze
12 mins
Thank you, Maya - Mike :)
agree Alfa Trans (X)
26 mins
Thank you, Marju - Mike :)
agree Vicky Papaprodromou
44 mins
agree Sol
2 hrs
disagree Refugio : Not actually. The program might have had very fine goals, which in the end were not achieved.
3 hrs
agree airmailrpl : objectives
4 hrs
agree Jacqueline McKay (X)
6 hrs
agree Eva Karpouzi
15 hrs
agree Aleksandra Gjoreska
8 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Graded automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
3 hrs

final results

Although ends can sometimes mean purposes or objectives, in this case it refers instead to end results. This is shown by the words 'outcome' and 'results.' The meaning of the two sentences, taken as a whole, is that corporate change may or may not be achieved by having performed a prescribed series of activities. Simply going through the motions is not enough. Only an in-depth evaluation at the end of those activities can determine whether true change has occurred.
Peer comment(s):

agree DGK T-I : in this case 'outcome' /final results/how it ends up (which may or may not be the original purpose/"end intended")
17 hrs
Thank you, Giuli.
agree Margaret Lagoyianni
17 hrs
Thank you, Margaret
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