Difference between revisions of "Mission Statement"
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"We will crush, squash, and slaughter Yamaha" | "We will crush, squash, and slaughter Yamaha" | ||
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| − | If any of the above mission statements caught your attention, then these mission statements were effective in accomplishing their objective. A mission statement may be the most important statement that will be written on behalf of your organization. Vision statements are also responsible for raising awareness on behalf of your organization. This article will detail the differences between mission and vision statements, guidelines that may be helpful in creating a mission and vision statement of your own and the impact mission and vision statements are capable of having on an organization. | + | If any of the above mission statements caught your attention, then these mission statements were effective in accomplishing their objective. A mission statement may be the most important statement that will be written on behalf of your organization. Vision statements are also responsible for raising awareness on behalf of your organization. This article will detail the differences between mission and vision statements, guidelines that may be helpful in creating a mission and vision statement of your own and the impact mission and vision statements are capable of having on an organization. <membersonly> |
==Definitions of Mission and Vision Statements== | ==Definitions of Mission and Vision Statements== | ||
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*Another option Angelica notes as a viable route to selecting a mission statement writing team is to hire an external consultant with experience in writing mission statements to observe the organization and its operations to devise an objective mission statement that will represent the organization in an accurate way (Angelica, 2001). | *Another option Angelica notes as a viable route to selecting a mission statement writing team is to hire an external consultant with experience in writing mission statements to observe the organization and its operations to devise an objective mission statement that will represent the organization in an accurate way (Angelica, 2001). | ||
| − | ==Clarifying Core Values | + | ==Clarifying Core Values== |
*To establish the most pervasive underlying core values of an organization, Angelica suggests having all members of the mission statement board be involved in brainstorming lists of values they deem most important with regards to the organization. Once every board member has completed this exercise, values are reviewed and the values that are reoccurring from each list are retained for incorporating into the mission statement. The mission statement should reflect these pervasive values (Angelica, 2001). | *To establish the most pervasive underlying core values of an organization, Angelica suggests having all members of the mission statement board be involved in brainstorming lists of values they deem most important with regards to the organization. Once every board member has completed this exercise, values are reviewed and the values that are reoccurring from each list are retained for incorporating into the mission statement. The mission statement should reflect these pervasive values (Angelica, 2001). | ||
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===Draft the Mission Statement=== | ===Draft the Mission Statement=== | ||
While drafting the mission statement it is important to keep in mind that “the key to writing the mission statement lies in understanding the overall organization, its stakeholders and its future direction and then writing an umbrella statement that answers the question ‘what good, for whom’” (Angelica, 2001). It is also important to keep in mind that the wording should be alluring and easy to understand from the perspective of individuals outside of the organization. The mission statement should distinguish your organization from others that may or may not be similar to it. Also, tone of the mission statement is essential to how it is received by individuals both internally and publicly. “If the tone is too lofty, haughty or ponderous, it won’t be taken very seriously” (Abrahams 1999). Key words and phrases must be examined and chosen carefully in order to convey the appropriate tone. The following are some key words utilized in mission statements today (Abrahams 1999): | While drafting the mission statement it is important to keep in mind that “the key to writing the mission statement lies in understanding the overall organization, its stakeholders and its future direction and then writing an umbrella statement that answers the question ‘what good, for whom’” (Angelica, 2001). It is also important to keep in mind that the wording should be alluring and easy to understand from the perspective of individuals outside of the organization. The mission statement should distinguish your organization from others that may or may not be similar to it. Also, tone of the mission statement is essential to how it is received by individuals both internally and publicly. “If the tone is too lofty, haughty or ponderous, it won’t be taken very seriously” (Abrahams 1999). Key words and phrases must be examined and chosen carefully in order to convey the appropriate tone. The following are some key words utilized in mission statements today (Abrahams 1999): | ||
| − | *Ability*Accomplished*Assett*Best*Change | + | *Ability |
| − | *Commitment*Communicate*Communities*Conscience*Customers | + | *Accomplished |
| − | *Dedication*Dedicated*Dignity*Direct*Diversity | + | *Assett |
| + | *Best | ||
| + | *Change | ||
| + | *Commitment | ||
| + | *Communicate | ||
| + | *Communities | ||
| + | *Conscience | ||
| + | *Customers | ||
| + | *Dedication | ||
| + | *Dedicated | ||
| + | *Dignity | ||
| + | *Direct | ||
| + | *Diversity | ||
===Circulate the Mission Statement for Review and Modify It=== | ===Circulate the Mission Statement for Review and Modify It=== | ||
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“Provide reliable natural gas services to customers in Oklahoma” Oklahoma Natural Gas Company | “Provide reliable natural gas services to customers in Oklahoma” Oklahoma Natural Gas Company | ||
| − | |||
==Developing a Vision Statement== | ==Developing a Vision Statement== | ||
The steps noted by Angelica for crafting a vision statement are as follows: | The steps noted by Angelica for crafting a vision statement are as follows: | ||
| − | + | ;Select the Vision Statement Writing Team | |
| − | Please refer to step 1, “Select the Mission Statement Writing Team” above. The criteria for selecting qualified individuals to write the vision statement is comparable to selecting qualified individuals to write a mission statement. | + | :Please refer to step 1, “Select the Mission Statement Writing Team” above. The criteria for selecting qualified individuals to write the vision statement is comparable to selecting qualified individuals to write a mission statement. |
| − | + | ;Generate Alternate Visions | |
| − | In order to create a vision statement, knowledge “of the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (competition) and mission” (Angelica 2001) should be taken into account. A vision statement can be developed to either reflect the employee’s perspective of what the organization will accomplish within the future or from the perspective of what the stakeholders see the organization accomplishing within the future. | + | :In order to create a vision statement, knowledge “of the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (competition) and mission” (Angelica 2001) should be taken into account. A vision statement can be developed to either reflect the employee’s perspective of what the organization will accomplish within the future or from the perspective of what the stakeholders see the organization accomplishing within the future. |
| − | + | ;Identify Common Themes | |
| − | Common themes in regards to where the employees/stakeholders see the organization in the near to long term should be kept in mind for drafting of the vision statement. | + | :Common themes in regards to where the employees/stakeholders see the organization in the near to long term should be kept in mind for drafting of the vision statement. |
| − | + | ;Draft the Vision Statement | |
| − | “The key to writing the vision statement is for the team to project itself into the future and then write above the future as if the team were in it” (Angelica 2001). The vision statement should encompass common themes from previous steps which are thought to be the direction in which the organization is headed. | + | :“The key to writing the vision statement is for the team to project itself into the future and then write above the future as if the team were in it” (Angelica 2001). The vision statement should encompass common themes from previous steps which are thought to be the direction in which the organization is headed. |
| − | + | ;Circulate the Vision Statement for Review and Modify It | |
| − | Please refer to step 6, “Select Circulate the Mission Statement for Review and Modify it” above. Vision statements can be circulated, reviewed and modified in the same manner as mission statements. | + | :Please refer to step 6, “Select Circulate the Mission Statement for Review and Modify it” above. Vision statements can be circulated, reviewed and modified in the same manner as mission statements. |
| − | + | ;Adopt the Vision Statement | |
| − | Step 7 of, “Adopt the Mission Statement” above also applies to adopting a vision statement. | + | :Step 7 of, “Adopt the Mission Statement” above also applies to adopting a vision statement. |
===Examples of Vision Statements=== | ===Examples of Vision Statements=== | ||
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Mission and vision statements are crucial for all organizations. Although the drafting and composition of quality mission and vision statements is an arduous process, when done correctly the payback to the business is significant and well worth the time taken to refine each statement. Mission and vision statements will give the organization new awareness to its goals and tasks, new visibility and promising new opportunities both internally and publicly. | Mission and vision statements are crucial for all organizations. Although the drafting and composition of quality mission and vision statements is an arduous process, when done correctly the payback to the business is significant and well worth the time taken to refine each statement. Mission and vision statements will give the organization new awareness to its goals and tasks, new visibility and promising new opportunities both internally and publicly. | ||
| − | + | ||
==Bibliography and Links== | ==Bibliography and Links== | ||
#Abrahams, Jeffrey. 1999. The Mission Statement Book: 301 Corporate Mission Statements from America’s Top Companies. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. | #Abrahams, Jeffrey. 1999. The Mission Statement Book: 301 Corporate Mission Statements from America’s Top Companies. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. | ||
Latest revision as of 08:33, 17 July 2008
"We will crush, squash, and slaughter Yamaha" -Honda
"To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people." -Walmart (1990)
"Become the dominant player in commercial aircraft and bring the world into the jet age." -Boeing (1950)
If any of the above mission statements caught your attention, then these mission statements were effective in accomplishing their objective. A mission statement may be the most important statement that will be written on behalf of your organization. Vision statements are also responsible for raising awareness on behalf of your organization. This article will detail the differences between mission and vision statements, guidelines that may be helpful in creating a mission and vision statement of your own and the impact mission and vision statements are capable of having on an organization.
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