Mission and Vision Literature review
The Importance of Mission and Vision
Abstract
Mission and Vision statements tell others who we are and where we want to go as an organization. Through the literature review, this paper aims to examine the importance of an organizational mission and vision statement. This paper outlines the details to show how business experts and practitioners have suggested that creating and communicating mission and vision statements are a critical part to the success of an organization. In addition, it also addresses the differences that exist between a mission and a vision.
The Importance of Mission and Vision
In 1997 during an interview with Leader to Leader Journal the social philosopher and management scholar Charles Handy was asked, “How do leaders find meaning to their accomplishments?” To which he replied "The companies that survive longest are the one 's that work out what they uniquely can give to the world—not just growth or money but their excellence, their respect for others, or their ability to make people happy. Some call those things a soul" (Handy, n.d.). That soul that Handy refers to, can be found in an organization’s mission and vision statements. When establishing a Mission and Vision statement for an organization, one must be careful and particularly attentive in choosing the appropriate words. However more important than the words used in a mission and vision statement is that an organization must truly believe in what it is saying and be able to live up to their statements. Only then will an organization be able to define with precision and rigor what their mission and vision is and provide clarity to the sometimes over used trendy words.
The success or failure of an organization could be attributed to an effective or flawed mission and vision statement. This essay will address the purpose and importance of establishing an effective mission and vision statement. Additionally it
Abstract
Mission and Vision statements tell others who we are and where we want to go as an organization. Through the literature review, this paper aims to examine the importance of an organizational mission and vision statement. This paper outlines the details to show how business experts and practitioners have suggested that creating and communicating mission and vision statements are a critical part to the success of an organization. In addition, it also addresses the differences that exist between a mission and a vision.
The Importance of Mission and Vision
In 1997 during an interview with Leader to Leader Journal the social philosopher and management scholar Charles Handy was asked, “How do leaders find meaning to their accomplishments?” To which he replied "The companies that survive longest are the one 's that work out what they uniquely can give to the world—not just growth or money but their excellence, their respect for others, or their ability to make people happy. Some call those things a soul" (Handy, n.d.). That soul that Handy refers to, can be found in an organization’s mission and vision statements. When establishing a Mission and Vision statement for an organization, one must be careful and particularly attentive in choosing the appropriate words. However more important than the words used in a mission and vision statement is that an organization must truly believe in what it is saying and be able to live up to their statements. Only then will an organization be able to define with precision and rigor what their mission and vision is and provide clarity to the sometimes over used trendy words.
The success or failure of an organization could be attributed to an effective or flawed mission and vision statement. This essay will address the purpose and importance of establishing an effective mission and vision statement. Additionally it
References: Argenti, P. A. (2013). Corporate communication (6th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Collins, J Collins, J, and Porras, J. (1996). Building Your Company’s Vision Harvard Business Review, September/October, 65–77. Fortune 500 Mission Statements. (n.d.). Welcome to Mission Statements.com. Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://www.missionstatements.com/fortune_500_mission_statements.html Hacker, S Handy, C. (n.d.) Leader to Leader - Journal. Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute. Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://www.hesselbeininstitute. Helen Keller Quotes (Author of The Story of My Life). (n.d.). Share Book Recommendations With Your Friends, Join Book Clubs, Answer Trivia. Retrieved October 12, 2013, from http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/7275.Helen_Keller Johnson, S Lewis, B. J. (1995). If You Know Where You Want to Go, You May Get There. Journal Of Management In Engineering, 11(3), 24-27. Nanus, B. (1992). Visionary leadership: creating a compelling sense of direction for your organization. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Our Mission and Values | PepsiCo.com. (n.d.). PepsiCo Home | PepsiCo.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013, from http://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Our-Mission-and-Values Pearce II, J Rigby, D., & Bilodeau, B. (n.d.). Management Tools & Trends 2013. Bain.com. Retrieved October 8, 2013, from http://www.bain.com/publications/articles/management-tools-and-trends-2013.aspx