The Influence of Mission & Vision on Planning

Week 2: Mission and Vision

The mission statement . . . influences the development of an organization’s philosophy, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and rules.

An organization will never be greater than the vision that guides it.

—Bessie L. Marquis and Carol J. Huston, Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing: Theory and Application

Mission and vision statements articulate an organization’s core purpose and future aims. Well-crafted statements can stand the test of time, even as the environment changes and new priorities emerge. On the other hand, some adjustments may be needed if and when an organization undergoes foundational transformation.

Consider the following mission statement: “Kaiser Permanente exists to provide affordable, high quality healthcare services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve” (Kaiser Permanente, n.d.). Think about the current health care environment and the types of internal and external changes that could affect the utility and appropriateness of this statement. Under what circumstances should an organization such as this one contemplate revising its mission?

As a nurse leader-manager, it is critical to realize the important role of mission and vision statements in guiding an organization.

In the first week of this course, you examined the planning hierarchy. This week, you consider mission and vision statements, which are at the top of the planning hierarchy because of the significant influence they exert on an organization. You practice the skills needed to craft appropriate mission and vision statements, and you consider how to develop these for maximum impact that reaches beyond the stated words to influence the plans and decisions made throughout an organization or system.

Note:  Over the next few weeks you will be engaging in small group discussions. These are meant to provide you with the opportunity to deeply explore the foundational concepts being presented. Much of the work you engage in moving forward will hinge upon your understanding of these concepts, hence, the small group opportunity to discuss and share.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

· Analyze the relationship of mission and vision statements to the planning hierarchy within organizations

· Analyze the process of developing mission and vision statements

· Evaluate mission and vision statements

Photo Credit: Nicolevanf/RooM/Getty Images

 

Learning Resources

Note:  To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Sare, M. V., & Ogilvie, L. (2010). Strategic planning for nurses: Change management in health care. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

· Review Chapter 4, “Just What Is Strategic Planning?” (pp. 57–82)

· Chapter 7, “The Three Key Elements of the Strategic Planning Process: A Vision That Guides Nursing’s Future Action” (pp. 117–143)

 

Chapter 7 addresses elements of the strategic planning process, which includes mission and vision.

Cady, S. H., Wheeler, J. V., DeWolf, J., & Brodke, M. (2011). Mission, vision, and values: What do they say? Organization Development Journal, 29(1), 63–78.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

This article addresses research on mission, vision, and values from 300 different organizations.

Desmidt, S., Prinzie, A., & Decramer, A. (2011). Looking for the value of mission statements: A meta-analysis of 20 years of research. Management Decision, 49(3), 468–483.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

This article looks at the relationship of organizational mission and financial performance. It includes a discussion of what a mission statement is and the purpose(s) it serves.

Hirota, S., Kubo, K., Miyajima, H., Hong, P., & Won Park, Y. (2010). Corporate mission, corporate policies and business outcomes: Evidence from Japan. Management Decision, 48(7), 1134–1153.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

The authors examine the implications of the mission statement for organizational practices and performance.

King, D. L., Case, C. J., & Premo, K. M. (2012). An international mission statement comparison: United States, France, Germany, Japan, and China. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 11(2), 93–119.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

 

This article examines the content of mission statements, stakeholder involvement, and the development of goals and objectives.

Required Media

 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013b). Case study: Mountain View Health Center [Interactive media]. Retrieved from CDN database. (NURS 6241)

 

This interactive multimedia piece presents a case study of Mountain View Health Center, with information about the types of activities performed there, organizational structure, strategic priorities, and financial allocations. You will use this as a resource for Discussion 2.

 

Optional Resources

Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2015). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

· Chapter 7, “Strategic and Operational Planning” (pp. 138–161)

 

Review as needed.

Desmidt, S., & Prinzie, A. A. (2011). The organization’s mission statement: Give up hope or resuscitate? A search for evidence-based recommendations. Advances in Health Care Management, 10, 25–41.

 

Discussion 1: The Influence of Mission and Vision on Planning

As you read the following mission statements, think about what you might deduce about each organization:

· “Nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all,” American Nurses Association

· “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors,” American Red Cross

· “The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit,” Southwest Airlines

· “To inspire hope and contribute to health and well-being by providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education and research,” Mayo Clinic

· “Provide telehealth solutions and executive medical research management to enhance and support military healthcare and promote innovative medical technologies,” Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC)

· “Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful,” Google

An organization’s mission describes its core purpose. In partnership with the organization’s vision, which communicates a future-focused direction, the mission provides a basis for planning and decision making at all levels of the organization.

For this Discussion, you compare mission and vision statements from multiple organizations and consider how these statements relate to planning.

To prepare:

· Review the information related to the planning hierarchy and mission and vision statements in this week’s Learning Resources.

· Research the mission and vision statements of three different types of organizations: a for-profit health care organization, a not-for-profit health care organization, and an organization outside of health care. As you examine the organizations’ mission and vision statements, consider the following:

· How effectively do the mission statements articulate the organization’s purpose?

· How effectively do the vision statements reflect future aims?

· Do the mission and vision statements convey who (which groups) the organizations serve? Do they indicate obligations to various stakeholders?

· Are the statements an appropriate length?

· What do you glean about how leaders in health care and in other industries envision and convey mission and vision?

· What do you discern about the interdisciplinary nature of crafting mission and vision statements by looking across organizations, including those outside of health care?

· Identify key insights you have gained by comparing the mission and vision statements of these three organizations.

· Consider how an organization’s mission and vision relate to the planning hierarchy. For each organization you have selected, think about how the mission and vision could or should influence planning. What elements of each mission and vision stand out as especially significant?