What is goal displacement?

Goal displacement is an unintentional change in the original goal of an organization, in which a new or secondary goal quietly replaces the goal the organization was actually created for. It occurs when "sub-goals" gradually become the primary goals, or when the mere survival of the organization becomes more important than its original purpose.

According to Blau, goal displacement can be understood as a shift in the structure of an organization by changing the weights within the structure or by adopting completely new goals. For example, a charity started to feed poor children that ends up spending most of its energy on fundraising events and protecting staff salaries has let self-preservation displace its original mission.