**Executive Summary:**

The conversation addressed the persistent issue of strategic alignment in project management and identified several contributing factors, including lack of clear objectives, communication gaps, changing strategies, resource constraints, cultural barriers, lack of engagement, and inadequate stakeholder involvement. To effectively tackle the lack of clear objectives, best practices were recommended, including:

1. Defining SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives.
2. Involving key stakeholders in the objective-setting process for alignment with organizational strategy.
3. Utilizing project charters to outline objectives and create formal agreements.
4. Conducting regular reviews and adjustments of objectives based on feedback and changing circumstances.
5. Ensuring clear communication of objectives to all team members and stakeholders.
6. Documenting objectives and changes for reference and alignment purposes.
7. Providing training on the importance of clear objectives to foster a culture of clarity.
8. Utilizing project management tools and frameworks, such as OKRs, for effective goal tracking.

By adopting these practices, organizations can improve project alignment with strategic goals and enhance overall success rates. Further exploration of specific challenges or practices can be facilitated upon request.