I have always been ‘bewildered’ with the concept of a mission statement.
In my non MBA, marwari mind, it always smelt of wasting time about something that had little significance.
I mean how can you define what you want to do; the business you will conduct; the target you will achieve and even the goals you will accomplish in one ‘mission statement’
It is one of those ‘off site’ agendas – to sit back, ‘ruminate’ on business, life and the world at large and then come up with something very prophetic…. something that you forget like you did your last hangover.
AT WORST – its an excuse for ‘Management Consultants’ – or THUGS IN SUITS (as I call them) to think and ‘discuss’ and conduct ‘group’ sessions with the top management of the Company, in pursuit of some MUMBO JUMBO that costs lacs of rupees.
ON A MISSION (STATEMENT) ?!!!
Ok – lets give the devil some due.
Mission statements DO HELP in ‘minimising’ the core thought of a business and doing some ‘soul searching’ to really understand what you want to do in your business – but that’s about it.
Printing these missions statements on corporate balance sheets, sending them as memos to staff and just reciting them as 2nd grade poetry doesn’t work for me.
I BET that no one even remembers this mission statement after a few hours or days of it being finalized.
In the case of start up’s the MISSION STATEMENT is very clear – EXIT PROFITABLE!
What more needs to be said?
I think Companies today are changing so rapidly that no ONE MISSION STATEMENT can be the Bible to live the future with.
Consider these Missions Statements of some of the Fortune 500 Companies:
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The Dow Chemical Company
2030 Dow Center Midland, MI 48674
Mission Statement
To constantly improve what is essential to human progress by mastering science and technology.
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The Estee Lauder Company
767 Fifth Ave. New York, NY 10153-0023
The guiding vision of The Estee Lauder Companies is “Bringing the best to everyone we touch”. By “The best”, we mean the best products, the best people and the best ideas. These three pillars have been the hallmarks of our Company since it was founded by Mrs. Estee Lauder in 1946. They remain the foundation upon which we continue to build our success today.
10401 Monroe Rd. Charlotte, NC 28201
Mission Statement
For Our Customers A compelling place to shop. . . by providing convenience and low prices For Our Associates A compelling place to work. . . by providing exceptional opportunities and rewards for achievement For Our Investors A compelling place to invest. . . by providing outstanding returns
Fedex Corporation
942 S. Shady Grove Rd. Memphis, TN 38120
FedEx will produce superior financial returns for shareowners by providing high value-added supply chain, transportation, business and related information services through focused operating companies. Customer requirements will be met in the highest quality manner appropriate to each market segment served. FedEx will strive to develop mutually rewarding relationships with its employees, partners and suppliers. Safety will be the first consideration in all operations. Corporate activities will be conducted to the highest ethical and professional standards.
1 American Rd. Dearborn, MI 48126-2798
We are a global family with a proud heritage passionately committed to providing personal mobility for people around the world.
Prajith Nayar
Interesting read. However, being guilty of two of the crimes you enumerate : an MBA and a Management Consultant, let me try and defend my creed. 🙂
Mission statements are mostly mumbo jumbo because like anything else , if the objective is not clear the result will be poor. Mission statements can be a powerful tool for unweildy large corporation built inorganically through mergers and acquisitions with various cultures and sub cultures inside the company. The problem is Mission statement is used like poetry to be learned by rote , which probabaly has some value addition at subconcious level. But I see mission statement more as a framework which a lower level employee who is disconnected from the management can use for ratifying what he is doing and how does it fit overall direction.
Hmmmm..I dont know how convincing this is. I give up but hey I tried.:-)
Now I switch sides, heres my contribution HCL mission statement
WYSIWYG- pronounced as weesee wig ….wondering what it means??
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it stands for ” What you See is What you Get”. I rolled off my chair when I heard it. Although, it has a lot of background story like integrity and transparency etc. but again what do you say of precise execution 🙂
Ashwin C Parulkar
what is the mission statement of games2win-just curious to know
Tarun mehra
I think mission statements are a huge waste of time under the premise of intellectual pontification ! ! Probably keeps some department(s) busy with annual activities !
However for the first time I came across a sensible misson / vision statement, of all the places, in a resort in Bali ! Photo attached. It simply said “Our vision : Our guests want to return ” !
Mahesh Khambadkone
I’m not an MBA, and the last time I had to define mission statements and it seemed a worthwhile experience, was with a inspiring gentleman who thrives on innovation.
The mission statement is akin to a motto at a school – it helps everyone (read : employees) remember what he is doing at the company, and can crystallize thoughts at management, e.g. when decisions need to be made, or even when they sit down to decide “what next”.
True : companies may just stash it in their corporate sections (see Apple’s https://investor.apple.com/faq.cfm?FaqSetID=6, which reads more like a Just Did It Statement), or really mean it (see Google’s real brief one-liner [https://www.google.com/about/corporate/company/] , but it’s not easy to define and then articulate.
Sridhar V
I agree with the point that vision or mission should not be given too much importance, however, one cant ignore it.
Why? There are millions of people (unlike you) who ask this question…be it investors, financiers, business partners, etc…who want to know the vision or the main objective or philosophy of the business. Ask any start up guy who went to VCs, banks, others for funding, and they are always asked a question on vision/mission of the business.
However, these are very subjective, generic and change and I agree with your point that it need not be overemphasized by printing it on walls, balance sheets, Tshirts, etc. How its emphasized depends on the industry and work culture.
Let me put another argument. If any graduate or professional goes for an interview he or she is asked “what do you want to achieve in the next 3 years or 5 years?” This question has no right or wrong answers but is used to test the focus of the person. Even a person going for a clerical job (with due respect to them as well)…..they are asked this question…..why should a person who is offered a small job with peanuts answer such a question? Not required I feel as long as they have the right attitude, skills, qualifications and abilities to work. But interviewers want to ask this question always.
I agree with Mahesh Khambadkone‘s point on defining the vision for the company and its team of employees at different levels of a common goal that they are working towards. In some cases due to regulatory or legal requirements companies have to have an objects clause in memorandum of association to communicate its vision to investors. Basically this answers the question “Why the company exists and what it proposes to do?”
However, business can exist and thrive without this…. but this mission is embedded in the DNA or mind of the business. For example small start ups, small businesses or trades – kirana, tailors, small eateries, etc dont need a mission statement. They know exactly what they are doing and understand their mission and the market they cater to.
yyogiraj
I think mission statement is usually achieved after a business is established for long and has achieved a social status.
For a startup, a mission statement is usually redundant for it undergoes many stages of metamorphosis.
A mission is result of overall corporate DNA….often in making in startups,.
Nameet Potnis
Over time I have come to admire certain companies and their respect for their vision and mission statement. Take for example Tata Power. Every single Tata Power outlet that I have been to within Mumbai has their Vision and Mission printed and displayed on the walls at eye level for the customer and employee to read.