What's in a Mission Statement? LO9618

Shailendra Kumar (SK@anand.nddb.ernet.in)
Fri, 30 Aug 1996 19:14:59 +0530

Replying to LO9146 --

This is with reference to Lisetta Chalupiak's post and
subsequent ongoing discussion on Mission statements on this
list.

When I first read Lisetta's post the following lines reminded me
of some of my own failures, frustrations and learnings.

> We started off thinking that we had to "manage change" only to
> find that focusing only on the process of change was sterile.
> We need to examine where we are going as departments, as a
> University, and develop a "mission statement" that is alive and
> dynamic, which gives real meaning.

To focus only repeat only on the process is a waste.

The power of process work in groups is so compelling that there
is always a possibility of ignoring the fact that organisations
do infact exist for a purpose.(Mission)

Individuals in an organisation and the organisation as a
collectivity dream and aspire to become some thing or achieve a
desired state.(Vision)

Yet without a process Mission and Vision remain a collection of
words. In order to achieve our mission and fulfill our vision we
need to know "how to" .(Goals and objectives)

The process chosen for defining or arriving at these statements
will depend upon the specific situation but as a general guide
line a participatory group process carried out in a setting
which ensures active involvement of employees cutting across
the levels and departments in an organisation is likely to
result in an end product which will have a better committement
from those involved at the time of implementation.

-- 

"Shailendra Kumar" <SK@anand.nddb.ernet.in>

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>