What's in a Mission Statement? LO9238

Wilson K Maj 12AF/QI (wilsonk@hq12af.dm.af.mil)
Mon, 19 Aug 96 10:54:00 PDT

Replying to LO9166 --

Lisetta asks:

> What should be in a mission statement?
> What makes one effective, meaningful?
> What are the core characteristics?

Air Combat Command (a major command within the US Air Force) provides the
following simple guidance for our senior leaders:

Vision - The future state of the organization

Mission - Validates the purpose of an organization

The criteria for a mission statement are simple. First, organizations need
to consider the makeup of their organization (Who are we ?). Second, in
general terms, organizations need to identify the reason for their
existence (What do we do?). Next, who is/are the significant customer(s)
of the organization s mission output. (Who do we do it for?) Finally, how
do we want people inside and outside the organization to view us and our
mission. (How do we want to be perceived? or How do we do the Mission?)

Mission and mission statements describe the purposes and reasons for
existence of an organization.
Senior leaders should consider their organization s distinctiveness,
heritage, location, etc. when developing a mission statement.

Example: Air Combat Command's Mission statement - "Air Combat Command
professionals providing the world's best combat air forces . . . delivering
rapid, decisive, and sustainable airpower . . . anytime, anywhere"

The above information comes straight from a course provided to our senior
leaders. I hope it is helpful.

Kim

wilsonk@hq12af.dm.af.mil

-- 

Wilson K Maj 12AF/QI <wilsonk@hq12af.dm.af.mil>

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