Contents :
- Meaning and Definition of Mission.
- Characteristics / Features of Mission Statement.
- Components of Mission Statement.
- Benefits of Mission.
- Guidelines for Effective Mission Statement.
- Differences Between Vision and Mission.
What is Mission Statement ?
A mission statement refers to the corporate reasons for the existence of an organization. Mission statement does not outline the outcome. It has no time-frame or measurement associated with it. It highlights the current position and the future scenario of an organization in terms of product market, pricing, customer service, etc. Mission has a little touch of philosophy in it, as it talks about the aspects for which an individual is destined to be in this world. It provides the ground on resource allocation as per the objectives.
For example :
Infosys Mission Statement is, “To achieve our objectives in an environment of fairness, honesty, and courtesy towards clients, employees, vendors and society at large”.
Definition of Mission
According to Hunger and Wheelen :
“Mission is the purpose or reason for the organization’s existence”.
According to Thompson :
“Mission is the essential purpose of the organization, concerning particularly why it is in existence, the nature of the business it is in, and the customers it seeks to serve and satisfy”.
According to Drucker :
“Mission focuses the organization on action. It defines the specific strategies needed to attain goal. It creates a disciplined organization. The business purpose and business mission are so rarely given adequate thought, is perhaps the most important single cause of business failure and business frustration”.
According to David F. Harvey :
“A mission provides the basis of awareness of a sense of purpose, the competitive environment, degree to which the firm’s mission fits its capabilities and the opportunities which the government offers”.
The mission statement outlines the activities conducted by the organization and communicates them to the society. The values and beliefs held by the organization play an important role in fulfilling the mission as it is built on the foundation set by the organizational values.
The mission statements provide an internal direction to the organization for its future. It is necessary for the employees to have motivation and enthusiasm to achieve the goals of the organization.