Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.

Language:

Download

Go BackAdd Note

Link

Embed

Save for later

Mission:

Defines the fundamental purpose of an organization or an enterprise, succinctly describingwhy it exists and what it does to achieve its vision. For example, the charity above mighthave a mission statement as "providing jobs for the homeless and unemployed".

Characteristics of a Mission Statement

It should be feasible2.

It should be precise3.

It should be clear4.

It should be motivating5.

It should be distinctive

Mission Formula

Develop the statement: Now that you have the raw data, it is time to be creative and put your statementtogether. Write key words or statements down on a large sheet of paper looking for common themes. Putthose themes into a couple of sentences, read over, refine and come up with a final product. Make surethat a consensus exists within the entire organization. If you want a bit more structure, here is one formulayou can use:The mission of (organization) ___________ is to __________, ____________,and ___________ (threeor four of your power words) [to, for with]__________________________ (core value or values) for thepurpose of ______________________ (relate to main purpose - uniqueness etc)by__________________________ (how will you do it? - uniqueness and special contributions).

Mission Statement Checklist ----How is Your Mission?

1. The mission statement is clear and understandable to all personnel, including rank-and-fileemployees2. The mission statement is brief enough for most people to keep in mind. This typicallymeans35 words of less.3. The mission statement clearly specifies what business the organization is in. This includesclear statement about:-

“What” customer or client needs the

organization is attempting to fill, not what products orservices are offered.

“Who” are the organization‟s primary customers or

clients?

“How” the organization plans to go

about its business i.e. What its primary technologiesare?

“Why” the organization exists,

i.e. the overriding purpose that the organization is trying toserve and its transcendental goals.4. The mission statement should identify the forces that drive the

organization‟s strategic

vision.5. The mission statement should reflect the distinct competence of the organization.6. The mission statement should be broad enough to allow flexibility in implementation butnot broad enough to permit a lack of focus.7. The mission statement should serve as a template and be the means by which managersand others in the organization can make decisions.8. The mission statement must reflect the values, beliefs, and philosophy of operations of theorganization.9. The mission statement should be achievable. It should be realistic enough for theemployees to buy into it. The wording of the mission statement should help it serve asan energy source and rallying point for the organization

Vision:

Outlines what the organization wants to be, or how it wants the world in which it operates tobe (an "idealised" view of the world). It is a long-term view and concentrates on the future. Itcan be emotive and is a source of inspiration. For example, a charity working with the poormight have a vision statement which reads "A World without Poverty."

Essential Characteristics

1. A vision is related to mission, but different.

I have already covered this characteristic in my previous post. A vision moves beyond thegeneric mission of the church to the specific calling a particular congregation is hearing fromGod.

2. A vision is unique.

In a previous post, I noted that mission is why we exist in the first place. A vision, on the

other hand, is a concrete description of „what God is calling us to do‟ in near future, normally

defined as the next 3-5 year. The shorter time period is essential because most of

congregations can‟t and shouldn‟t make detailed plans beyond that. The situation that we faceis too likely to change and we aren‟t

in a position to predict very well what those changesmight me. Nevertheless, a vision pictures where a particular congregation should beconcentrating its efforts in the near future.

3. A vision focuses on the future.

Any congregation that has any history at all needs to connect its future plans with what hashappened in the past. Without a clear expression of that connection, the vision may meet witha great deal of resistance.

At the same time, the focus of a vision is on God‟s preferred future for the

congregation. Itpictures what a congregation believes God wants its future to look like.