mission statements

Written by: Joan M. Donahue on Apr 7, 2006 4:02 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Loop DFA

I've uploaded the three proposed mission statements to the file section of our group, Loop Supporters, so that you can read and comment on each one.

Included in this note are some sample mission statements, a little blurb about mission statements and a "how-to". I think if we all work together we can take all three mission statements and hammer them into one statement that is broad, visionary, and meaningful for all of us. We need everyone to contribute to this mission statement exercise so that it resonates with all of us, because this statement is about all of us and what we do and will continue to do as Loop Supporters.

About mission statements
From about.com
The answers to three fundamental questions are clearly articulated, strategically disseminated, and consistently reinforced:
"¢ Why does the organization exist?
"¢ Where is it going?
"¢ How does it need to act to get there?
The answers to these questions must be precisely expressed and held with conviction throughout the culture. "Conviction" is the operative word.

Examples of Mission Statements:

www.managementhelp.org/plan_dec/...

The World Bank
To fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and foreign partnerships in the public and private sectors

The Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide. Our goals are to:
"¢ Strengthen democratic values,
"¢ Reduce poverty and injustice,
"¢ Promote international cooperation and
"¢ Advance human achievement

Clemson University
The mission of Clemson University is to fulfill the covenant between its founder and the people of South Carolina to establish a "high seminary of learning" through its historical land-grant responsibilities of teaching, research and extended public service.

OSHA
OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.


How to write Mission statements

management.about.com/cs/generalm...

How To Write a Mission Statement
From F. John Reh,

Writing a Mission Statement is a complex activity involving every level of the organization. Here's how to get started.
Difficulty: Hard
Time Required: 90 minutes
Here's How:
1. List the organization's core competencies; its unique strengths and weaknesses.
2. List the organization's primary customers, internal or external, by type, not by name.
3. Review how each customer relates to each of the organization's strengths. Ask them if possible.
4. Write a one-sentence description of each customer/strength pairing.
5. Combine any that are essentially the same.
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6. List the sentences in order of importance to the organization's vision, if one exists.
7. Combine the top three to five sentences into a paragraph.
8. Ask your customers if they would want to do business with an organization with that mission.
9. Ask your employees if they understand and support it and can act on it.
10. Ask your suppliers if it makes sense to them.
11. Incorporate the feedback from customers, employees and suppliers and repeat the process.
12. When you have refined the paragraph into statements that clearly articulates the way the company wants to relate to those it effects, publish it to everyone. Post it on the wall, email it to everyone, etc.
Tips:
"¢ A good mission statement provides strategic vision and direction for the organization and should not have to be revised every few years. Goals and objectives are the short-term measures used to get there.
"¢ Revise the organization's mission statement when it is no longer appropriate or relevant.


So Jump in, the water's warm.
-joan

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Location: Chicago, IL 60604