And that would be highly counterproductive to the stated objectives of both parties in Washington.

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So has the JOBS Act achieved its stated objectives of opening the IPO floodgates and jumpstarting startup activity?

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But much of it, especially Proposals 1-3, is bold and specific would contribute much toward meeting the stated objectives.

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Instead of all-purpose boxes of bricks, with no rules or instruction manuals, the company now sells Star Wars Legos and Harry Potter Legos, complete with step-by-step instructions and stated objectives.

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Likierman, in his new corner office, says his research on successful leadership leads him to believe success is about results, not characteristics--"a successful outcome against stated objectives, " as he puts it.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Now, if 401k plan sponsors had truly found a way to meet the stated objectives of these plans, i.e. providing for the retirement security of their participants, these attitudes might be justified.

FORBES: Corporate Sponsors Agree: 401(k) Plan Results Don't Matter (April 8, 2008)

With one of the government's main stated objectives being to advance Turkey's EU membership bid, both the AKP and MHP presented the proposed easing of the headscarf ban as an issue of civil and religious freedom.

ECONOMIST: Lagging political reform may delay EU membership

And New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who dined with Mr. Corbat during the recent two-day summit, also subscribes to the philosophy, popularized by Peter Drucker, the management guru, that to manage something, you must objectively chart progress against stated objectives, according to people familiar with his thinking.

WSJ: Citi's CEO Is Keeping Score

Instead of parsing the objectives they hope to achieve, they direct their energy at coming up with solutions to broadly-stated problems.

FORBES: 4 Steps to Successful Brainstorming