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Culture And Mission Statement

Decent Essays

Sure, most company heads know what they want their organizations to become in the future, but unfortunately unless those goals are communicated to the members who are able to position the company in such a manner to arrive at that destination, the organizations are likely to end up somewhere unintended. If those leaders fail to communicate the vision and the culture to guide the organization in the right direction, the vision of the leader is likely to never be fully realized. As Laurence J. Peter comically stated, “If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.” The concept of a vision statement, if approached correctly and if properly crafted, can ensure the direction and culture of an organization. …show more content…

The vision statement; however, is what the organization wants to become in the future. I most certainly agree, as some have argued, that “culture is not created by words plastered on the wall or carried around on laminated cards,” (Bradt, 2008, p.13) but that culture is created by the actions of the leadership. However, it is the combination of mission statement, visions statements, and core values that should guide corporate decisions and establish the culture of the organization. If adhered to, the vision statement guides the organization down the path that will lead to its intended destination. A poorly crafted statement or a statement, regardless of craftsmanship, that is not followed or allowed to guide decisions will, of course, have no lasting effect on the organization. So the value of the vision statement rests in the commitment of the organization’s leadership to uphold the vision at all times. Such actions that uphold the vision lend credibility and legitimacy to the vision statement and create a lasting culture. Without a detailed vision as a starting point, a nonprofit's planning process is as apt to produce harmful results as useful ones. Planning without vision becomes motion without direction. As experience has taught us all, being busy does not always mean being productive. (Eadie, 1995, p. 40) A properly crafted vision statement will contain focused goals that will meet specific

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